Bulgaria M15
The interwar years saw many countries adopt helmets of French origin, both M15 and M23 variations, the M23 was a transitional helmet that had a short life prior to the M26, most of these were exported once production of the M26 got underway. Both M15 and M23's found their way to Yugoslavia in the 1920's to the mid 1930's.
This particular example was one of those helmets, when overrun by Germany and her ally Bulgaria these helmets were captured, sent home and repainted and fitted with Bulgarian made liners and chinstraps from the "Darjavna Voenna Fabrika" (National Factory of Armament). The stamp to the liner translates to "DVF" an abbreviation for this manufacturer initially located in Sofia, later Kazanlak. The symbol within the circle is that of a figure with a gas mask.
These Adrian's were all transferred to the Civil Defence and Air/Chemical Defence units of the Bulgarian Military, basically the Bulgarian equivalent of the Luftschutz, and continued to be used until phased out by the German "Gladiator" helmets in mid WWII
This helmet has been repainted green and has the cyrillic letters painted to the front which translate to "P.V.H.Z" (Protivovazdushna i Himimicheska Zashtita) which is "Air Defence".
This particular example was one of those helmets, when overrun by Germany and her ally Bulgaria these helmets were captured, sent home and repainted and fitted with Bulgarian made liners and chinstraps from the "Darjavna Voenna Fabrika" (National Factory of Armament). The stamp to the liner translates to "DVF" an abbreviation for this manufacturer initially located in Sofia, later Kazanlak. The symbol within the circle is that of a figure with a gas mask.
These Adrian's were all transferred to the Civil Defence and Air/Chemical Defence units of the Bulgarian Military, basically the Bulgarian equivalent of the Luftschutz, and continued to be used until phased out by the German "Gladiator" helmets in mid WWII
This helmet has been repainted green and has the cyrillic letters painted to the front which translate to "P.V.H.Z" (Protivovazdushna i Himimicheska Zashtita) which is "Air Defence".
