Czech Sola Pith Helmets of WWII at the Prague Military Museum

It is a strange thing to consider that the landlocked Central European nation of Czechoslovakia (today the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic) would ever have a need for sun helmets. While the traditional Czech police helmets used in Prague and other cities were made of a pressed fiber material, and even resemble sun helmets, protection from the sun was not the primary purpose.

And despite this fact, there are examples of Czech used sun helmets – notably those used by the Free Czech Forces that fought with the Allies in North Africa and served in garrison duty roles in Palestine. Photos suggest that the Khaki Sola Pith pattern was the most commonly used pattern – often with the tri-color Czech flag attached to the left side.

Period photos showing Czech soldiers in Palestine in 1942

The Czech Police Helmet

Peter Suciu