M35 Italian Tankers Helmet

The M35 Italian tank helmet is a distinctive black leather crash helmet used by Italian armored crews from the 1930s through the 1960s. This helmet was designed for head protection against the cramped, metal interior of a tank, and not for ballistic protection.

Key Design Features

• Construction: Made of high-quality fiber material, lined with tightly stitched black leather.
• Protection Rim: Features a prominent, permanently attached, thick bumper around the forehead and sides to protect against head injury in moving vehicles.
• Neck Protection: Includes a 10 cm long black leather "rain protection rim" or neck protection, designed to prevent dirt and oil from entering the tank crew's collar.
• Inner Lining: Typically features a light brown leather suspension system consisting of seven flaps tied together with a leather cord for size adjustment.
• Ventilation: Equipped with vents on each side for airflow through the interior.

Operational history

• World War II: It was standard equipment for the armored divisions of the Italian Royal Army, such as the famous 132nd Armored Division "Ariete", and was used in various war zones, including the Balkans, North Africa, and Russia.
• Post-war use: The design was effective and remained in use long after 1945, often by Italian motorcycle police officers into the 1950s and 60s.
• Spanish variant: A nearly identical version was adopted by the Spanish Army during and after the Spanish Civil War, often with minor differences such as pinned rather than stitched neck protection.