The German Gasmask and kanister - a study in variation

[Danmark]

Hi all,
I have a number of gasmasks and kanisters from the 1939-45 period and I thought a little study of the variations one finds may make an interesting and thought provoking thread.

In addition, a study of the webbing straps used may clear up some long held misnomers about what is good and what is not. For example, to say that "coarse weave" is post war BW and "fine weave" is wartime is true to a point - but too simplistic a statement to make ( without qualification ) as there were MANY types of web styles used.

I also want to look at the mask variations - from the canvas to the full rubber and in between - and the actual mask and filter types.

So, feel free to add your own examples and maybe we can sort out this confusing morass of designs - "oh what a twisted webbing we weave"

Here first is an overview of my collection....cheers, Dan

[roger9344]

Here are my only 2 examples. One of them has the postwar straps which are coarse weave.

[Danmark]

Thanks for your example Roger - an early leather tipped strap variation is one of the ones I will explain in due course. With regard to the "coarse vs fine weave" idea, consider this - coarse weave webbing WAS used during the period .... British pattern 37 webbing is coarse weave as is US and Canadian. Early tropical webbing ( German ) varies also in weave coarseness...... more on this later.

[roger9344]

Thanks, Dan. I appreciate you starting this. I think the gas mask & canister is an icon of the Landser, and would like to learn more about them.

[Danmark]

Here are examples of the many styles of mask one can come across - full and partial rubber, ordnance tan painted fittings, blue and normal, variations of filter etc.... much can be quite confusing as changes were made over the years. I will go into these one by one as the thread moves along.

There will also be anomalies found - like a filter stamped 'April 1944' but also stamped 'TP' ( for tropical use!!!!! ) and a Danish post war issue of a TOTALLY wartime manufactured unit ( waffenamt and all )

While the paranoia over possible gas usage eventually went away, a mask was probably still considered useful for smoke and burning city fighting I suppose?

[Gunny Hartmann]

Dan, i've got one of the shorter kanisters about 24.5cm high and it's dated 1937, who used those?..

[Danmark]

Dan, i've got one of the shorter kanisters about 24.5cm high and it's dated 1937, who used those?..

They were made only for 2 years ( 1936-38 ) and used the rubberized canvas M30 mask. The later type M38 is all rubber and with it's introduction, the can got taller. Some say the early mask is more flexible but I cannot see that. Any ideas out there??
Dan

[Danmark]

Can I also say that with this thread, I do NOT want to try to top the excellent website MP44.nl - German Uniforms and Equipment that goes into great detail on this and other equipment subjects but only to ADD to the knowledge Tom has provided there. I would encourage all to have a look and report back here if you have something Tom has not clarified ..... and with respect, there are questions still to be answered.
Cheers, Dan

[Gunny Hartmann]

They were made only for 2 years ( 1936-38 ) and used the rubberized canvas M30 mask. The later type M38 is all rubber and with it's introduction, the can got taller. Some say the early mask is more flexible but I cannot see that. Any ideas out there??
Dan

Oooh a fair bit rarer then!....

[spandau]

Dan

Fab thread, I will get my 4 examples on here after the new year break, interesting stuff.

cheers

tony