The steel helmet SŠ-36
The steel helmet SŠ-36 (СШ-36 - стальной шлем образца 1936 года) was developed in 1934-1935 in the Leningrad Metallurgical Plant and was introduced into the army in 1936.
The helmet was made of 1 mm (1.1 mm) thick steel and was produced in three sizes. Its weight ranged from 1200 g to 1300 g (depending on the size). The helmet was characterized by considerable comfort (especially in comparison with the following type of SS-40), to which also contributed quality ventilation. The ventilation holes were covered by a small "comb" on top of the helmet. However, the helmet was relatively expensive and difficult to manufacture. Already in production, the helmet was dyed, using different shades, e.g. dark green, black with a rise to blue up to various shades of khaki. At the same time, the contours of a red five-pointed star were applied to the helmet in two variants - one with a line thickness of 3 mm without a hammer and scythe and the other with a 1 mm thick line with a hammer and scythe in the middle. A camouflage cover fabric was often used on helmets.
Helmets were used in small quantities during the Spanish Civil War (supplied as part of assistance from the USSR and also by Soviet "volunteers"), in conflict with Japan on the Chalchyn-gol River, in the "Winter War" with Finland and, of course, during the Great Patriotic War. war. Since 1940 it was replaced by a helmet vz. 1940 (SŠ-40) and since 1943 it has been practically not used on the Western Front. On the contrary, units stationed in the Far East used it until 1945, including the fighting with Japan in August 1945.