Containers may not, with steel enclosures, been possible. But the fact is they would have shipped them in wood crates...
so there would have been containers...just with wood, everything was crated...
Koon

During WWII?
Metals were needed else where.
Wood was cheap and easily replaced.
Most, if not all containers were probably made of wood.

The Russians used to take the wooden pallets for firewood during the winter (in Murmansk anyway) until a few were hung for wasting 'vital' war material.

Now that is desparation....they had no problem/compunction twisting ships derricks beyond repair by lifting materials way beyond the lifting capacity, but risked a possible death penalty for trying to keep warm http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ys/4_6_100.gif

My father told me that merchant crews risked lengthy terms of imprisonment if they were caught fraternising with the local women, which eventually led to a strict 'no shore leave' order for everyone.