Hairnet of the German Armed Forces
Inventory number: Ü 49
“German Hair Force” is just a nickname that members of the Bundeswehr had to listen to after the introduction of the hairnet in 1971. Along with the conscripts, the hippie fashion with long hair and beards came through the barracks gates at the end of the 1960s. At this time, there was a veritable “conscientious objection boom” among conscripts, with six times more applications for conscientious objection being submitted than before. And those who took up arms demanded more individual freedom.
The military commissioner considered long-haired soldiers to be “sloppy and dirty”. To the displeasure of many, the then SPD Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt allowed long hair to be worn in February 1971, provided a hairnet was worn during service. However, the new item of equipment was not popular with either conscripts or their superiors: it was cumbersome, interfered with the wearing of headgear and made people sweat quickly. As early as May 1972, the hairnet was abolished again under the pretext of hygiene concerns and the short hairstyle was made compulsory.
However, the rules on hair and beard style are not just a question of practicality. Even today, the discussion about the appearance of soldiers is caught between the poles of individual personality development and military discipline. The current service regulation “The external appearance of soldiers in the Bundeswehr” states: “As large sections of the population continue to draw conclusions about military discipline and thus the functioning of the Bundeswehr from the appearance of soldiers, there are limits to participation in fashion developments.” Soldiers still have to wear their hair short today. However, different rules apply to female soldiers, for whom long hair is generally permitted, but must be tied back in a plait. In this way, a compromise between civilian fashion and the soldier’s appearance is constantly being negotiated.
Object of the month
(short) stories from the depot
Unfortunately, many objects cannot currently be shown in the exhibition for conservation reasons. Here you will find unusual objects and exciting stories of special pieces from the depot
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07/2025
Poem on the one thousandth design change of the HS-30, 1960
This poem was written by Hanomag employees to mark the one thousandth design modification of the HS 30 infantry fighting vehicle in March 1960.
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06/2025
Shaped-charge grenade as a cutaway model, 1971
This model has a Prussian cockade at the front and a storm strap with which the helmet could be fastened to the head.
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05/2025
Leather helmet of the motorized troops, ca. 1916
This model has a Prussian cockade at the front and a storm strap with which the helmet could be fastened to the head.
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04/2025
Book “Grenadiers” by Kurt Meyer, 1983
Kurt Meyer (1910-1961) was an SS brigade leader in the Waffen-SS and remained a staunch National Socialist even after the war.
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03/2025
Japanese armored helmet, ca. 1930s
This helmet is the unlined summer version of the Japanese Type 92 armored helmet. It is made of brown textile and is fully padded.
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02/2025
Beer mug from the Wünsdorf Army Driving School, 1935
This beer mug was awarded to Richard Streibel on August 14, 1935 at the end of his training as a non-commissioned officer in Wünsdorf.
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01/2025
Computer game Battlefield 1, 2016
Battlefield 1 is the fifteenth game in the Battlefield series from Electronic Arts, the numbering refers to the historical setting: the First World War.
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12/2024
Patches “Panzer Division Marduk”, 1999
Marduk is a Swedish black metal band that formed in 1990. It is considered one of the most commercially successful in the scene and a classic of the genre.
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11/2024
Aluminum drinking cup, 1894-1914
These aluminum drinking cups were only produced until October 1914, after which the shortage of this light metal began in Germany.
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10/2024
Uniform jacket of the fog troop, ca. 1936
This field suit worn by a Wehrmacht Oberwachtmeister belongs to the fog training and testing department set up in Bremen 88 years ago today.
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09/2024
Tropical helmet according to the Bortfeldt patent, ca. 1901
In 1896, the German colonial troops were given a uniform that had never before existed in the armies of the German Empire.
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08/2024
Play figure Kataphron Destroyer, 2022
This game piece is part of the tabletop strategy game “Warhammer 40,000” (often abbreviated as: Warhammer 40k).
