20th Century/Poland: Polish Helmet, Model 67/75, United Nations (UN) Standby Forces

The wz.67 Helmet—a major return to the concept of the wz. 31 helmet. In the mid-1960s, many Polish engineers with military backgrounds recognized the need to develop a new helmet design for the Polish Army, one that would, on the one hand, meet the requirements of the battlefield at that time and, on the other, successfully replace the SHB Model 50, which was inspired by its Soviet prototype. A dozen or so different designs were created during this period. At the same time, the political situation in Poland during the second half of the 1960s—marked by a certain “thaw” following the Stalinist era—created an opportunity to return to the prewar concept of the wz. 31 helmet. The inspiration drawn from the interwar design stemmed from the wz. 31 helmet’s excellent ergonomics. The desire to return to Polish military traditions was also a significant factor. It could be said that the renewed focus on the wz. 31 helmet was also a form of recognition for Poland’s prewar technical innovation. The design from the Second Polish Republic era was so successful and modern that, nearly 40 years later, it could still serve as inspiration and a benchmark for subsequent designs.
The helmet offered here is the wz.67/75 version, characterized by the use of the second type of internal lining. This version of the helmet was originally intended for the Air Force or Navy and was factory-painted in a gray-blue color. The helmet underwent a military refurbishment to adapt it for service with the United Nations Standby Forces. Both the exterior and interior surfaces of the helmet shell were repainted blue, and “UN” markings were painted on the sides. Dimensions: 16.7 x 28 x 24.3 cm. The condition of the item is shown in the attached photos.