H056962 M38 GASMASK & CANISTER. (Gasmaske M38 mit Blechbüchse) 

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: M38 pattern, molded, black rubber, sheet metal and alloy construction gasmask with all the web and fabric covered spring straps, buckles, hooks and eyes intact. The sheet metal eye socket frames and alloy snout both retain about 90% of their blue paint. Of Note: Allegedly the blue paint was suppose to identify non-magnetic fittings, and although this is partially true in this case, other observed examples have been fully magnetic. The snout is well marked with the embossed manufacturer’s three letter code and date, "bmw 44", indicating manufacture by Aluminiumwerke G.m.b.H. of Nürnberg in 1944. The snout also has a screw threaded, filter attachment port with both an intake and a discharge valve. The clear celluloid eye socket lenses are intact and show moderate to heavy age yellowing. One of the lenses is well marked with the stamped manufacturer’s three letter code and the date, "lxq 43", indicating manufacture by by Josef Kudrnac & Co. Gummiwerke, of Nachod Protektorat in 1943. The exterior of the mask is well marked with the embossed size numeral, "3", positioned between the eye sockets, indicating size small. The interior of the mask is well marked with assorted, faint, mostly illegible, white inkstamps that appear to include a waffen-amt. The interior of the mask also has the embossed manufacturer’s three letter code and the date, "lxq 44", indicating manufacture by by Josef Kudrnac & Co. Gummiwerke, of Nachod Protektorat in 1944. 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 edge of the filter is well marked with a faint, black inkstamped waffen-amt, a serial number, "8023", the date, "43" along with the impressed designation, "FE41", and the manufacturer’s three letter code, "gnh", indicating manufacture by Auer-Gesellschaft A.-G. of Danzig. The side of the filter has a white, hand painted name, "Schmidt". The filter retains about 95% of its original field-grey paint. 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, "frn 44", indicating manufacture by Rudolf Lang Federn-Draht und Metallwarenfabrik of Brandenburg in 1944. The canister retains about 95% 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 matching, white, hand painted name as found on the filter, "Schmidt". 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 four 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. Bei Benutzung als Doppelklarscheibe in der GM.38 erst eine Klarscheibe, dann als Abstandshalter abgestanzten Pappring und darauf zweite Klarscheibe einlegen. Sprengring gut nachdrücken! (Apply upward pressure to the clear disks to put them in place on the inner surface of the mask to keep them clear. For using double clear disks in Gasmask {model} 38. First insert a clear disk then a paper spacing ring, then insert the second clear disk. Securely press down the retaining ring!), to the other side of each. The top lid of the replacement lens box has the impressed, manufacturer’s three letter code and date, "hnz 1943",indicating manufacture by Ludwig Grosskopf & Co. Metallwarenfabrik of Ilmenau in 1943. 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, late war example in overall good condition.

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