Ersatz Model 1895 Preußen Felt Infantry
 
Ersatz Model 1895 Preußen Filzhelme (felt helmet) for Reserve or Landwehr.

Ersatz helmets were constructed from Ersatz (substitute) materials, such as rabbit felt and afforded no practical protection.

The helmet was manufactured as a Model 1895 with brass fittings, but without front visor trim or rear spine making the helmet quite fragile.
 
 
A view of the M1895 Wappen (front plate) for Reserve and Landwehr Regiments. Note that the Fatherland Bandeau is absent on Reserve and Landwehr helmet Wappen, replaced by a silver Reserve cross.
 
The liner is similar to a standard leather Pickelhaube but sewn to the insdie of the shell.
A view of the side profile.
This Filzhelme has several tiny holes over the top which pierce the felt and liner. I used brass rods to indicate the trajectory of the objects that pierced the felt. Note that by lining up the rods with the holes in the shell and liner, they seem to come from the same area above the helmet, indicating small bits of Shrapnel.

Page 11 of Ludwig Baer's "The History of the German Steel Helmet" quotes an Army report that the great majority of brain injuries were caused by "remarkably small fragments" .
 
The interior view shows where the largest object pierced straight down through shell and liner. Looking down on the helmet shell, a viewer can see the hole punched neatly through shell and liner in a very straight line.