Rare WW2 Italian MVSN/GNR Armoured ‘M’ Brigade Motorcyclist’s Helmet
Rare WW2 Italian MVSN/GNR Armoured ‘M’ Brigade Motorcyclist’s Helmet
A very rare WW2 Italian MVSN/GNR armoured motorcyclist’s helmet with original Italian tanker skull badge.
The helmet was likely originally issued in 1943 to a motorcyclist of the 1st ‘M’ MVSN Armoured Division. This was essentially Italy’s first and only heavy armour division of the war, being supplied by the Germans with Panzer III, Panzer IV and Stug III tanks rather than the more standard Italian tankettes. It was intended to be Mussolini’s personal guard division and therefore was composed of hand-picked fanatical MVSN Blackshirts who had already seen combat on the eastern front and who had been hand trained by the best of the German SS. It consisted of just 5,700 men, not many of which will have been motorcyclists.
However before the division could see action, the armistice was signed between Italy and the allies. Much of the Division though, being fanatical, refused to side with the allies, instead forming the ‘Leonessa’ Armoured ‘M’ Group of the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana (GNR), fighting for the RSI German puppet state. The Leonessa group fought mostly against the partisans in Yugoslavia and in Italy itself.
This helmet belonged to a Motorcycle trooper of either one, or (likely) both of these armoured units. It was found in Piedmont so that would suggest the owner ended the war in the Leonessa Armoured M Group of the GNR.
Needless to say, these armoured motorcycle helmets are incredibly rare, and are particularly interesting as they went out of production in 1945, making it guaranteed war time, unlike the Italian tanker helmet which was produced well into the post war period.
The liner is in fragile condition.
Size approx 58-59.