Inv. no.: DPM 1.310
The demobilization of the German armies began at the end of the First World War. The German steel helmets were initially worn by Freikorps soldiers and later – like some of the soldiers – transferred to the Reichswehr, which was established in 1921. One steel helmet was allowed for each of the 100,000 soldiers, as specified in the Versailles Peace Treaty, as well as 15,000 in reserve.
The new Reichswehr was not to consist of the armies of the individual federal states, as had previously been the case in the Empire, but was to be a centrally led, national armed force. For Bavaria, this meant the end of the Bavarian army, but it was able to negotiate some special rights. The newly created Wehrkreis VII with its own state commander included Bavaria without the Palatinate, which had been occupied by the French until 1930. The Bavarian division stationed in this military district comprised 11,000 men and consisted only of Bavarian citizens. In order to make their cultural affiliation visible, the Bavarian military district commander requested a coat of arms for the Stahlhelm.
This M18 helmet in matt grey shows a Bavarian helmet emblem on the left side, but not the one officially introduced in 1921 for all federal states in the Reichswehr, which was standardized in size and shape and differed only in the national colors. Before, Bavarian units had painted shields on their helmets, which varied in shape and illustrated their strong desire to identify themselves as Bavarian compatriots.
Bavarian particularism reached its peak in the autumn crisis of 1923, when the right-wing conservative Bavarian government had the Bavarian Reichswehr sworn in and planned a putsch by the “Ordnungszelle Bayern” against the government in Berlin. However, they were pre-empted by Adolf Hitler, whose coup failed in November 1923. Ultimately, the majority of the Bavarian Reichswehr sided with the Republic and became a regular part of the Reichswehr.
(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
07/2026
The German Tank Museum received this “Cholm Shield” in 1995 from a survivor of the Battle of Cholm—he survived the battle severely wounded and was likely the only survivor from his unit, Nahrichten-Abteilung 42.
05/2026
The demobilization of the German armies began at the end of the First World War. The German steel helmets were worn by Freikorps soldiers and later – like some of the soldiers – transferred to the Reichswehr, which was established in 1921.
03/2026
In the 1930s, France greatly expanded its armored units and, at the beginning of the Second World War, had significantly more tanks than the German Reich. Tank models from the First World War were upgraded, new models were introduced and the uniforms of the crews were also further developed.
02/2026
In the 1930s, France greatly expanded its armored units and, at the beginning of the Second World War, had significantly more tanks than the German Reich. Tank models from the First World War were upgraded, new models were introduced and the uniforms of the crews were also further developed.
01/2026
The metamphetamine “Pervitin” came onto the German market as a drug in 1938 without sufficient testing.
12/2025
Well camouflaged on top and sporting a yellow-and-black belly underneath to ward off danger, this model of a small yellow-bellied toad fits perfectly into the tank museum’s collection.
11/2025
In the reunified Germany of 1990, there were still hundreds of thousands of foreign soldiers from the former occupying powers. The Two-Plus-Four Treaty stipulated that Soviet troops had to withdraw from the territory of the former GDR.
10/2025
In 1958, the NVA introduced classification badges for various military training courses, for example tank and motor vehicle drivers, radio operators, divers and airplane pilots. This merit badge was awarded to tank drivers after their examination
09/2025
Drones have become a central means of combat in the war in Ukraine. Both sides are using both military and commercially available civilian drones.
08/2025
The board game “Ethixx” was published by the Center for Internal Leadership in 2016 to make training and further education in the Bundeswehr on the subject of ethics more interesting.
07/2025
This poem was written by Hanomag employees to mark the one thousandth design modification of the HS 30 infantry fighting vehicle in March 1960.
06/2025
This model has a Prussian cockade at the front and a storm strap with which the helmet could be fastened to the head.
