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, (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. 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. 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. 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.

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. The aluminum alloy eye socket frames retain about 75% of their field-grey paint while the metal alloy snout retains about 95% of it’s field-grey paint with a couple of small scrapes and scuffs. The clear celluloid eye socket lenses are intact and show light to moderate age yellowing and both lenses are well marked with the matching, stamped manufacturer’s three letter code and the date, "byd 1943", indicating manufacture by Heinrich und Bernhard Dräger Drägerwerke Gasschutzgeräte of Lübeck in 1943. The exterior of the mask is well marked with the embossed size numeral, "2", positioned between the eye sockets, indicating size medium. The snout is well marked with an unknown, white, hand painted numeral, "1/78". The snout also has a screw threaded, filter attachment port with both an intake and a discharge valve and comes complete with a roughly, 2 1/2" , (6.3cm), tall, 4 1/8", (10.4cm), diameter, field-grey painted, magnetic sheet metal construction, early, "FE37", Filter Einsatz 37, (Filter Insert 1937), breathing filter. The filter retains about 95% of it’s field-grey paint and is well marked with a black, inkstamped waffen-amt, the date, "1940", a serial number, "D168" and the impressed designations, "FE37", "Rfe", and, "AB". The sides of the filter also have an additional inkstamped date, "Januar 42", indicating it had been refurbished, or reissued. The top edge of the filter has a raised, screw threaded, port to attach it to the mask intake/discharge valve. The bottom edge of the filter has six concentric rows of punched breathing holes and the internal air filtering components appear to be fully intact. The interior of the mask is well marked with the embossed, manufacturer’s three letter code, "byd", indicating manufacture by Heinrich und Bernhard Dräger Drägerwerke Gasschutzgeräte of Lübeck. The mask is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and all of the components, are intact.