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. The M30 gasmasks were produced in a rubberized canvas with metal fittings while the M38 gasmasks were produced in molded, rubber and were also equipped with metal fittings. Both gasmasks were utilized through-out he war. Of Note: One third of the gasmasks issued to Kriegsmarine, ({War} Navy), personnel were equipped with the unique addition of a microphone port bushing positioned on the right hand side "cheek" of the mask that was designed to accept a screw on microphone as required. Although the masks with the additional microphone port bushing were intended solely for select Kriegsmarine personnel they were also utilized by other German armed forces personnel on a limited basis. When issued, the gasmask came equipped with, one of a variety of, removable breathing filters and assorted accessories and was issued in a specifically designed carrying canister. Originally the first pattern gasmask carrying canisters were roughly, 9 5/8", (24.5cm), tall, until a second, roughly, 10 3/4", (27.5cm), 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. Also 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. The gasmask canisters were issued with a field-grey painted finish while a field applied, tan painted finish for tropical usage and a white washed finish for winter usage were both sanctioned by regulations. Besides the tan, and white finished gasmask canisters there appears to have been no official regulations regarding the application of painted camouflage patterns for the gasmask canisters. Although there appears to have been no official regulations regarding the camouflaging of the gasmask canisters, individual soldiers who could procure the appropriate paints were permitted to camouflage their canisters as they saw fit. Although not widespread it seems that camouflaging the gasmask canisters was at least condoned if not encouraged. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: M30 pattern, green rubberized canvas and metal alloy construction gasmask with a grey/green suede lining to the interior edge and all the web and fabric covered spring straps and alloy buckles are intact. The metal alloy eye socket frames and snout both retain over 95% of their field-grey paint. The snout is well marked with the unknown, embossed manufacturer’s initials, "AB", which flank the size numeral, "2", indicating size medium. The snout also has a screw threaded, filter attachment with the intake and discharge valve. The clear celluloid eye socket lenses are intact and show minor age yellowing and have the impressed manufacturer’s initials and the date, "AB 3 1937". Interestingly the exterior of the mask doesn’t have the usual size inkstamp, positioned between the eye sockets. The interior of the mask is well marked with numerous, assorted, black inkstamps that include an early, Reichswehr era, (Circa 1919-1933), waffen-amt, the date, "1937" and the size, "2". The mask is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning and all of the components are intact. The mask comes with a field-grey painted, sheet metal construction, FE41, (Filter Insert 1941), breathing filter. The filter is roughly, 3 1/4", (8.3cm), tall with a 4 1/4", (11.5cm), bottom diameter tapering up to an open 1 1/2", (4cm), diameter, extended, screw threaded top lip. The top lip still has it’s original, protective, gilt washed sheet metal, screw threaded cap included. The top edge of the filter is well marked with the impressed designation, "FE41", and the side of the filter has the black inkstamped date, "Oktober 1942". The filter retains about 90% of its original field-grey paint with minor surface spotting. The bottom edge of the filter has a central, exhale valve with an inserted cap with an impressed three letter code, "fcc", indicating manufacture by Hermann Nier Metallwarenfabrik of Beierfeld. The mask comes housed in a second pattern, (Circa November 1941-May 1945), M30/38, field-grey painted, cylindrical, corrugated, magnetic sheet metal construction, gasmask canister with a vertical, brazed, side seam and a separate, hinged, top lid. The canister is roughly, 10 3/4" (27.5cm), tall with a 4 3/4", (12cm), diameter. The separate, hinged, top lid has a spring loaded, vertical, sheet metal, closure clip with a stitched on, khaki/olive canvas web, pull tab and a corresponding, soldered on, closure stud on the canister’s body. The spring loaded, vertical, sheet metal, closure clip is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s three letter code and date that appears to be, "frn 42", indicating manufacture by Rudolf Lang Federn-Draht und Metallwarenfabrik of Brandenburg in 1942. The canister retains about 85% of it’s original 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 embossed letter, "D", indicating, "Dicht", (Leak Proof), and a red hand painted name that appears to be, "H Petersen". The canister has two, brazed on, raised, extended arms near the top edge and a third near the bottom edge for the carrying and belt support straps. Both the khaki/olive, canvas web, carrying strap and the belt support strap are included. The carrying strap has a sliding, opened rectangular, sheet metal, length adjustment buckle and an alloy retaining stud. The belt support strap has a steel belt support hook and a steel retaining stud. The interior of the top lid has a small, square, hinged box for the replacement lenses and contains three cellophane wrapped replacement lens packets with black printed script to the cellophane. The script to the cellophane includes, "Klarscheiben vor Feuchtigkeit schützen, nicht wischen, nur am Rand anfassen", (Clear disk for protection against moisture, don’t wipe, only hold by edges), to one side of each and, "Klarscheibe so einlegen, daß der Aufdruck. Innenseite vom Innern der Maske lesbar ist", (Apply upward pressure to the clear disks to put them in place on the inner surface of the mask to keep them clear.), to the other side of each. The top lid of the replacement lense box has the faint, impressed, manufacturer’s three letter code within a triangular border that appears to be, "ebu", indicating manufacture by Eckhardt & Co. Fabrikerzeugung von Autogen u. Atemgeräte Chotebor. The top lid of the replacement lens box also has the faint, impressed date, "42". The interior of the canister still has its protective, sheet metal sleeve insert, a chamois cleaning cloth and the spring wire cleaning cloth retainer all intact. Nice complete example in overall good condition.