Thomas Dworzak WW1 reenactment, "Kaisermanoever" with mostly German historical groups. Reenactor wearing a pickelhaube. The "pickelhaube", or spiked helmet, became the symbol of German militarism during World War
(...) One. Originally introduced into the Prussian army by Frederick William IV in 1842, the helmet was made of boiled leather, metal trim and its iconic metal spike. The German poet Heinrich Heine railed against the helmet as early as 1844, writing in his poem, "Germany: A Winter's Tale", "Nur fürcht ich, wenn ein Gewitter entsteht,
Zieht leicht so eine Spitze
Herab auf euer romantisches Haupt
Des Himmels modernste Blitze! "
(roughly, the spike will form a lightning rod for the modern storms to come).
Town of Ilmenau. Thuringia, Germany. 2013/08. © Thomas Dworzak | Magnum Photos
