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 and were required to have it readily available at all times. Although the use of chemical warfare agents was considered by the German OKW, (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. Both the WWII M30 and the M38 gasmasks were issued in a cylindrical, corrugated, sheet metal canister that came equipped with a shoulder carrying strap and a small belt support strap. Originally the gasmask canister shoulder straps came equipped with small leather reinforcement tabs to prevent chafe wear where the straps attached to the canister. Luftwaffe regulations of June 17TH 1942 discontinued the gasmask canister shoulder strap leather reinforcement tabs and it is believed that the army followed suit.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Three well worn and used examples. Leather is dry and a couple have tears. One is nicely maker marked and dated for 1940.