BACKGROUND: With the development of poisonous gasses used as offensive weapons in WWI appropriate defensive gasmasks also had to be developed. The German WWI M1915 and M1917 gasmasks evolved into the Reichswehr era M24 gasmask and eventually into the M30 and M38 gasmasks used in WWII. All German Army personnel were issued with a gasmask, carrying canister and accessories and were required to have it readily available at all times. Although the use of chemical warfare agents was considered by the German OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), fear of the Allies retribution forced them to reconsider and shelf the idea. Fear of the potential use of chemical warfare agents made the gasmask and canister a constant companion of the German soldier through-out the war. Of Note: In spite of the fear of the potential use of chemical warfare agents some German personnel opted to utilize their gasmask canisters as a container for extra food or contraband in spite of regulations.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: M38 pattern, molded, black rubber and field-grey painted, metal alloy construction gasmask with all the web and fabric covered spring straps, buckles, hooks and eyes intact. Size marked 2. Comes complete with a FE41 filter. The mask comes housed in a second pattern M30/38 gasmask canister. The corrugated, magnetic sheet metal canister is roughly, 27.5cm tall with a 12cm diameter. The canister has a separate, hinged, top lid with a spring loaded, vertical, closure clip with a coarse khaki web pull tab and a corresponding, soldered on, closure stud situated on the canisters body. The canister retains about 95% of its original feldgrau paint. Nicely unit marked "3/699" in white paint. The bottom of the canister has an embossed, "D", indicating, "Dicht", (Leak Proof), and signifies a watertight canister. The canister has two brazed on, extended arms near the top edge and a third near the bottom edge for the carrying and belt support straps. Both the carrying strap and the belt support strap are absent. The interior of the top lid has a small, square, hinged compartment for the replacement lenses. The replacement lenses are present. Mask and filter are in very good condition. Shows the expected period use and wear but overall intact and in usable condition.