WW2 Belgian M1931 Steel Helmet Shell– Rare Pre-War Belgian Army Helmet – Khaki Original

An original Belgian Model 1931 (M31) steel helmet shell, a scarce and historically important example of Belgium’s standard combat helmet used during the early stages of the Second World War.

The M31 helmet replaced the earlier Model 1915 and reflects Belgium’s effort to modernise its equipment prior to the German invasion of May 1940.

Item Details:
Model: Belgian M1931 steel helmet
Country: Belgium
Date: Pre-WW2 / early WW2 (circa 1930s–1940)
Finish: Original khaki paint
Construction: Steel shell with aluminium comb
Liner: French-style liner system (similar to M26 pattern) Missing, Part chinstrap .
Condition: Original condition with age-related wear, consistent with service use
Historical Context:

The Belgian M31 helmet was introduced to replace the earlier Model 1915 and was heavily influenced by French helmet design, particularly the Adrian helmet Model 1926.

It features a distinctive aluminium comb and a slightly modified shell shape, while the liner system closely follows the French pattern.

At the time of the German invasion in May 1940 (part of the wider Battle of Belgium), the Belgian Army was relatively small and not fully re-equipped. As a result:

Production numbers of the M31 were limited
Many Belgian soldiers were still issued the earlier Model 1915 helmet

This combination makes surviving M31 helmets considerably scarcer than many contemporary European helmets.

Collectability:
Rare WW2 Belgian helmet
Transitional design between WW1 and modern helmets
Distinctive aluminium comb feature
Strong link to the 1940 campaign in Belgium
Increasingly difficult to find in original condition
Display:

An excellent piece for:

WW2 helmet collections
Early war / 1940 campaign displays
European military history collections