A German Kriegsmarine M40 steel helmet, recovered from the remains of the massive Batterie Großer Kurfürst coastal artillery installation at Cap-Gris-Nez in northern France.
Constructed by the Germans between 1940 and 1941, Batterie Großer Kurfürst formed an important part of the Atlantic Wall and was armed with four powerful 28 cm naval guns. From its position overlooking the English Channel, the battery was used against Allied shipping and conducted cross-Channel bombardments against the southern coast of England, including the area around Dover.
The battery remained an important German coastal position throughout the war and was subjected to repeated Allied attacks. On 29 September 1944, following a major RAF bombing raid, the position was captured by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, supported by specialised vehicles of the 79th Armoured Division. The heavily damaged remains of the battery can still be seen at Cap-Gris-Nez today.
This helmet was recovered from the site over 20 years ago and retains excellent battlefield provenance to this historically important German coastal artillery position.
The helmet appears to have been lacquered at some point in its life, but a very strong shadow of the original decal remains visible, adding considerable character to the shell.
A fascinating and increasingly scarce relic of the Kriegsmarine, Atlantic Wall and German coastal defences of northern France, with a particularly interesting recovery location associated with one of the major German batteries overlooking the English Channel.
A German Kriegsmarine M40 steel helmet, recovered from the remains of the massive Batterie Großer Kurfürst coastal artillery installation at Cap-Gris-Nez in northern France.
Constructed by the Germans between 1940 and 1941, Batterie Großer Kurfürst formed an important part of the Atlantic Wall and was armed with four powerful 28 cm naval guns. From its position overlooking the English Channel, the battery was used against Allied shipping and conducted cross-Channel bombardments against the southern coast of England, including the area around Dover.
The battery remained an important German coastal position throughout the war and was subjected to repeated Allied attacks. On 29 September 1944, following a major RAF bombing raid, the position was captured by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, supported by specialised vehicles of the 79th Armoured Division. The heavily damaged remains of the battery can still be seen at Cap-Gris-Nez today.
This helmet was recovered from the site over 20 years ago and retains excellent battlefield provenance to this historically important German coastal artillery position.
The helmet appears to have been lacquered at some point in its life, but a very strong shadow of the original decal remains visible, adding considerable character to the shell.
A fascinating and increasingly scarce relic of the Kriegsmarine, Atlantic Wall and German coastal defences of northern France, with a particularly interesting recovery location associated with one of the major German batteries overlooking the English Channel.
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