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 Weimar, Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), 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 Allied 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. Originally the first pattern gasmask carrying canisters were roughly, 9 5/8" tall, until a second, roughly, 10 3/4" tall, pattern was introduced on November 26^TH 1941. The taller, November 1941 pattern, gasmask canisters were a waterproofed version with a rubber seal incorporated beneath the fold back top lid. Further production of the earlier, non-waterproofed version was discontinued as per regulations sometime in late 1942. 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: Early, (Circa 1936), variant pattern gasmask canister, with a unique top lid closure. The cylindrical, corrugated, magnetic sheet metal construction canister is roughly, 9 5/8" tall with a 4 3/4" diameter, and has a vertical, brazed, side seam. The separate, hinged, top lid has a unique, vertical, brazed on, pressure, closure clip with a swivel hinge, an extended finger pressure plate with a rivetted on, olive drab, canvas web pull tab and a brazed on securing hook. This type of pressure clip is associated with the early, variant pattern M30 models of the gasmask canisters. The canister has two, brazed on, raised, extended arms near the top edge and a third near the bottom edge, designed for securing the carrying and belt support straps. The carrying strap and the belt support strap are both absent. The canister retains about 85% of its original, age and usage darkened, field-grey paint with small spots of wear to the base metal with light to moderate surface spotting. The bottom of the canister has the handwritten, Roman numeral, "III". The interior of the top lid has a small, square, hinged compartment for the replacement lenses. The replacement lenses are absent. The fold back lid of the replacement lens compartment is well marked with an early, black inkstamped Reichswehr era waffen-amt, the impressed date, "1936", and an unknown, impressed, stylized, manufacturer’s logo. The interior of the canister still has its protective sheet metal sleeve insert, intact. Scarce, early, variant canister in overall good condition.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $97.00