20th Century/Poland: Navy Helmet Model 67 (Traffic Control)

Polish Steel Combat Helmet Model 67
The Model 67 helmet—a major return to the concept of the Model 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 demands of the battlefield at that time and, on the other, successfully replace the SHB Model 50, which was inspired by its Soviet prototype. More than a dozen 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 interest in the wz. 31 helmet was also a form of recognition for Poland’s pre-war technical expertise. 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 piece 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 intended for the Navy. The helmet was factory-painted blue, with the Polish military eagle painted on the front. Beneath it is the letter “R,” denoting service with the Traffic Control Unit. Dimensions: 16.7 x 28 x 24.3 cm. The condition of the item is shown in the attached photos.