Polish Helmet WZ.31
The Polish wz. 31 helmet, officially known as Hełm wzór 31, was developed in the early 1930s as part of Poland’s effort to modernize its armed forces with domestically designed and manufactured equipment. Its development was rooted in the desire to move away from foreign models like the French Adrian and the German Stahlhelm, both of which had been used in Poland following World War I. The task of designing a uniquely Polish combat helmet fell to engineer Leonard Krauze at the Military Engineering Research Institute (Instytut Badań Materiałów Uzbrojenia) in Warsaw.
The initial prototypes, influenced by earlier designs such as the wz. 30, were improved upon to create a distinctive shell shape with a high dome and rounded skirt, providing good protection to the head and neck. The liner system was based on a licensed Swedish design, reflecting a pragmatic approach that combined Polish innovation with proven foreign technology. The shell itself was made from quality nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel, though later models would also use manganese steel for cost reasons.
A key feature of the wz. 31 was its textured matte paint, commonly referred to as the “Salamandra” finish. This unique coating, created by blending cork particles into the paint, helped reduce glare and added to the helmet’s visual identity. The first production batch of approximately 120 units was completed in 1932 and sent for troop trials. Following minor adjustments, full-scale production commenced in early 1933. Manufacturing was centered at the Huta Ludwików factory in Kielce, using steel supplied by Polish mills.
The helmet officially entered service with the Polish Army in January 1933. It was adopted widely, not only by infantry and artillery units but also by the navy, police forces, and the Border Protection Corps. Some helmets, especially those issued to police and frontier units, bore a large white eagle emblem on the front, a nod to national symbolism.
Over the course of the 1930s, production steadily increased. By the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, an estimated 300,000 to 320,000 helmets had been manufactured and distributed. Though it was never produced in the millions like the Stahlhelm or Adrian, the wz. 31 represented a major investment in self-sufficiency for the Polish military. It was also exported in limited quantities to countries such as Iran, Albania, and Republican Spain.
After the war, remaining helmet shells were retrofitted and reused by Polish forces. These postwar variants, known as wz. 31/50, were equipped with new liners modeled after Italian or German designs and painted in a smooth khaki or blue finish depending on their intended role. These refurbished helmets remained in use through the 1950s and in some cases well into the 1960s, serving as a testament to the durability and practicality of the original design.
The wz. 31 helmet remains an iconic piece of Polish military history, appreciated both for its functionality and its distinct aesthetic. Collectors and historians alike value it as a symbol of interwar Poland’s commitment to military modernization and national identity.
