15 August 1915

‘To the Second Army Dr;

Press reports indicate that the French are investigating the production of a steel helmet for head protection against grenade fragments & secondarily against shrapnel.

Standard rifle bullets will penetrate the helmet.

#Stahlhelm

1)

In the current sort of static warfare & artillery duels, bullet wounds remain in the background.

Shell fragment & grenade injuries, however, occurred with frightening frequency.

It happened during the 2 1/2 month period that I was consulting surgeon....

#Stahlhelm

2)

....here at the surgical section of the Palace of Justice Military Hospital.

In one section of the hospital, no less than 102 head wounds were admitted. Of these, 71 were shell fragment wounds & only 29 were from bullets. 12 were indeterminate....

#Stahlhelm

3)

....but at least 8 of these were probably wounds from shell fragments.

The greatest part of these by far resulted in serious brain damage. These wounds, frequently of the very worst sort, were caused by remarkably small fragments.

#Stahlhelm

4)

The largest fragment observed was no larger than the size of a bean, but most were no larger than the average cherry pit & frequently even smaller.

In disproportion to their smallness, we found that these projectiles possessed great penetrating power.

#Stahlhelm

5)

Most of the fragments that remain inside the skull frequently cause the most severe brain injuries, particularly because of the spinning motion of the jagged projectile.

Brain injuries have caused a most sorrowful chapter in the history of military surgery.

#Stahlhelm

6)

A proportionately large part of the surviving wounded became ‘healed’ only insofar as the repair of their wounds.

In reality however, they were sent home crippled, and not only in the physical sense but even worse....

#Stahlhelm

7)

....crippled psychologically, spiritually & emotionally.

I know from my time in the Berlin Reserve Hospital that a large percentage of the so called ‘crippled healed personnel’ later died.

I am of the strong opinion that only a very low percentage....

#Stahlhelm

8)

....were sufficiently healed after several years so that life for them was actually worth living.

Of those that die later, many will do so as a result of their injuries & a portion of them will commit suicide.

The majority of the rest will develop....

#Stahlhelm

9)

....physical, spiritual & psychological ailments of the very worst sort, manifested as paralysis, epilepsy, mental & physical incapabilities & other illnesses.

A protection against these frequent & terrible results of War....

#Stahlhelm

10)

....is of great importance.

After a consultation with Hauptmann Professor Schwerd who is an authority in the technical area, it became quite evident that a sufficiently strong & light protective helmet....

#Stahlhelm

11)

....which can defend against shell fragments can be rather easily made.

Professor Schwerd also believes that it would be quite possible to find a material tough enough to ensure that no secondary metal fragments....

#Stahlhelm

12)

....would enter the skull in substantial numbers after the penetration of the helmet by a rifle bullet.

Because of this, the question of a protective helmet appears to me to be of the greatest importance to military experts....

#Stahlhelm

13)

....and I consider a speedy determination of this concern to be most important so that we are not outstripped by the French in this area.

I request that you gentlemen stimulate this matter with those in higher levels.

#Stahlhelm

14)

Signed Professor Dr August Bier

Naval Doctor-General & Consulting Surgeon to the XVIII Army Corps & to the Military Hospital, Section VII’

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Bier

#Stahlhelm

15)

This letter was the catalyst for the development of the iconic German #Stahlhelm & is the precursor to my next thread on its inception.

Thanks for reading.

16/End)