Deutsche Volksgasmaske - Mint, very beautiful & more than complete

[danhashman]

Hallo Kameraden

My newest adquisition: A mint-in box Volksgasmaske, sent from " Reichskommisariat Ostland" to Mindelheim,Bavaria (Deutschland), from a worried father to his daughter.


There are many cool things on the box:

-4 Postmarks with the Ostland Reichsadler "Dienststelle - Feldpostnummer 12091"

- A 20 pfennig blue Hitler-stamp with an OSTLAND print.

- Sender: Hauptfeldwebel Karl Riebel. -J - Fp Nr.15838

- Reciever: Frau Maya Riebel; Kaufbeuerstr. 43, Mindelheim, Bayern
(on a printed label whose writings are in that nice old-german shape.)

The Box contains

-Mint gasmask, mint filter, a cardbox holder for the mask & the nosepiece
-Instructions for use & care
-a private Letter withbeautiful handwriting that says:

Kr, the 9. Jüli 43

Loved Maya
Casually yesterday i had to do quickly in ????. It was possible for me to get three gasmasks. One is for you, one for Grandmom and the third one is a Childsmask for Karlheinzi. I hope and wish that you never have to use them in a serious way.
For tonight be hearthly greeted and kissed..

Your always worried Vati (father)



I consider pieces like this, with such an intense human connection very intense. I checked and the House still exists, and there are some Riebels still living in the little medieval bavarian town on Mindelheim. I plan to write them, it would be awesome to know more abot this story, the fate of Mr Karl Riebel
The good thing: Mask is mint, so I HOPE that Maya, Grandma & Karlheinz never where in danger..

Anyone can tell me more about the "Feldpostnummer 12 091" ????

Greetings, your friend danhashman

[Teutonicknights]

I like it! Danny are you around?

[GasMasksUK]

This is a fantastic piece, its a step above the rest of the VM Gas Masks that I've seen

Thanks for sharing it with us

Danny

[CARL]

I agree Danny, this is a fantastic example. Lovely letter too, well done danhashman!

Regards,

Carl

[danhashman]

Help with Feldpostnummer from Reichskomissariat Ostland

Forum-Member hucks216 from Suffolk helped me with the two feldpostnumbers on the box. THANK YOU hucks216 for this impressively complete info:



Dienststelle - Feldpostnummer 12 091
It belonged to various Org. Todt units after 1941...

(Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) Pionier-Sperr-Kolonne 507,
(15.9.1940-31.1.1941) gestrichen,
(27.1.1942-14.7.1942) OT-Eisenbahn-Einsatz Baugruppe Giessler Narwa,
dann OT-Eisenbahn-Einsatz I,
(15.7.1942-24.1.1943) OT-Baugruppe Giessler Einheit IV,
(1.8.1943-23.3.1944) 27.9.1943 OT-Oberbauleitung Ostland Einheit IV,
(24.3.1944-6.11.1944) 13.9.1944 OT Technisches Hauptamt Lettland Eisenbahn-Bauleitung 4,
(7.11.1944-Kriegsende) 16.3.1945 gestrichen.

...as does the FpNr located top right of the label (15838)...

(Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) 3. Kompanie Straßen-Bau-Bataillon 625,
(15.9.1940-31.1.1941) gestrichen,
(27.1.1942-14.7.1942) Organisation Todt Eisenbahn-Einsatz Baugruppe Giessler,
dann OT-Eisenbahn-Einsatz IV,
(15.7.1942-24.1.1943) OT-Baugruppe Giessler Einheit III,
(1.8.1943-23.3.1944) 27.9.1943 OT-Oberbauleitung Ostland Einheit III,
(24.3.1944-6.11.1944) 13.9.1944 OT-Technisches Hauptamt Lettland Eisenbahn-Bauleitung3,
(7.11.1944-Kriegsende) 17.1.1945 Bataillon 504 OT-Front-Regiment z.b.V. 113.

[thefight]

Very interesting, certainly has a lot of personality.

Alec