I just purchased an original WWII german helmet. It’s an M40. It’s all under chalk, you can see different pasting layers on it.
What am I to do with it? I’m thinking about having it cleaned. But I’m afraid the chalk will come right off if I treat it with oxalic acid.
According to me it’s original winter period camo chalk, as a quick solution to having it camouflaged for the winter.

Would cleaning it make me an idiot? Should I keep my hands off? Or should I clean it, being carefully with the chalk/paint? The different layers proof that it’s done by man, not by nature. Please help me on this one! I don’t know whether this is a battlefield find or not.

The chalk is coming off guys. Help me out here!

All info is welcome!

Oh, and yeah. I also bought this beautiful Luftshutz helmet. It’s winter camouflaged as well. The shell and liner are original and RB-numbered. No doubt about that but I’m not sure on the paint job.

It has red glows here and there, I don’t know what it is. The inner side is the regular grey, also with red paint spilling spots. You can actually feel it if you rub over it. Think it’s a period job but I’m not a 100% sure. Help me out please. Check out the vents… There’s some white paint inside of them. Has to be a field-job done by a soldier or post war. But why would a post war soldier camo his helmet in winter time? And I’m not sure whether this type of helmet was used after the war. Anyway, it’s German. Check it out.

Cheers