do you think helmets started to rust during war

[trevor87bikes]

hi im always worried my helmets will rust away lol even though they have never got any appear on them ....do you think being obviously in bad weather during the war they would of started to rust at the time cheers matt

[Bill Hermann]

hi im always worried my helmets will rust away lol even though they have never got any appear on them ....do you think being obviously in bad weather during the war they would of started to rust at the time cheers matt

If the helmets paint was damaged to expose the bare steel I'm sure surface rust would have started. No doubt a soldier in the wehrmacht would have been encouraged to care for his personal kit the same as his weapon though. Even constant handling can slow rust, you can imagine a lansders fingers coated in gun oil and fat from cooking ect. In a 5 year war though imo at least some pots would have shown signs of corrosion. Watch the humidity Matt where you store your pots, there is some info on the forum in the conservation section. Rgs Bill

[trevor87bikes]

cheers billi keep them in a cupboard on some acid free card ....out of direct sun light aswell

[keifer kahn]

Please dont tell me you think rust is a product of the 21st century.............

If the helmet was scratched or dropped during ww2 and bare metal was exposed and the atmospheric/environmental conditions were conducive for rust(65% humidity or higher) then they would of rusted.But as soldiers were expected to keep their gear in servicable condition(and Military disciplinary action would follow if they didnt), i doubt rusting happened that often.


Be wary of storing helmet in cupboards without circulation.Lack of airflow contibutes to mould on liners and actually ups the humidity, contributing to rust.

[SirPayne]

Rust can form on the bare metal in less than 4 days. All it takes is a little water and oxygen and the right conditions.

[trevor87bikes]

My mint m40 has been in the same place at back of cupboard for 10 years so hopefully it's ok ..even on hot days it feels cool in the cupboard so hopefully it doesn't get humid

[helmet guy]

I am sure that due to weather conditions ( mainly rain and snow), damp forests, swamps, dugouts in the damp ground, etc, that exposed steel would have started to rust to some extent. That does not take into account oxidization from the air itself. Anyway, I am sure that it was better to have exposed metal dulled by rust then nice shiny exposed metal reflecting light in the sun. About your helmets rusting away in your life time....I don't think so. Just look at those ground dug helmets that have been surfacing lately. Buried in the damp ground for around 70 years and still some paint on them. Just don't store or display them in a damp basement. Constant low humidity and temperature, little exposure to hot lights and direct sunlight is best. Overly dry or damp conditions are to be avoided.

[Der_Stahlhelm]

I think that we could talk of oxydation and not mainly as rust. It depends if the lid has also been continuously used or, for example, stored somewhere...