BACKGROUND: As a result of the increased head wounds and the development of the first "modern" steel helmets by the French army in early 1915 and by the British army later that year the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production of the new steel helmets began at the Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, in the spring of 1916. Along with the newly developed steel helmets were a removable frontal helmet plate and the protective "trench armor", breast plate designed for wear by personnel in static positions. The design of the breast plate was based on an earlier breast plate as utilized by combat engineers and the heavy cavalry's cuirass breast plate of the early 1800's.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A large, heavy, tooled steel construction protective breast plate that measures approximately 34.5cm tall 36cm wide with scalloped edges to accommodate the wearers arms, and two small, curved, shoulder retaining plates rivetted to the sides of the top edge by three pointed head rivets. The main breast plate also has a stand-up forward "collar", and a central, vertical, raised rib. The main breast plate has two pointed tip rivets to the obverse which secure two metal loops to the reverse which in turn would secure two vertical white web straps to hold smaller, "lobster tail" metal panels. The straps and panels are not included. The metal shows pitting and has a "shot" dent to the front and can be seen through to the reverse causing a dimple in the metal. Stamped "48" "S" . Weighs 5.5kg.