GAS MASK CANISTERS

[dazza]

I have aquired a Wehrmacht Gas mask canister made by AUER and the translation on the can translates 'for civilian use' or words to the effect. Were the military issued with these cans as even the strap is different to the other canister I have?

Many thanks

Daz

[Simon H]

Hello Daz,

By Wehrmacht gasmask canister I'm assuming you mean the standard fluted type? These were issued to Wehrmacht, but I've also seen them issued to Luftschutz personnel as well. The "bespoke" Luftschutz gasmask tins are painted in the air protection blue colour (same as helmets) and are similar to the first war type in that they are a cylinderical tin with a hinged lid rather than the fluted ribbed type. Hope this makes sense...

A photo of whatever you have would be useful to say what you have for sure.

[dazza]

I will get a picture sent in a few hours as modern computers confuse me so I need to wait for my daughter to return from school, she will help me, many thanks, computer literate ......NOT

[Simon H]

OK. Will await the arrival of computer whizz kid!

Kind Regards,
Simon

[dazza]

the wizkid is here now here are the pictures. many thanks dazza.

[Simon H]

Nice! Issued to some Wehrmacht and second line troops as well as some Air Protection personnel. Strap looks fine, nice find!

[Simon H]

Also noticed that your example still has the short lower strap and metal fixing for securing onto the wearers belt. On the inside of these shorter cans the spare eye pieces are carried in a flat box with a hinged lid, not the same as the standard longer Wehrmacht cans.

[TJK06]

I found a cannister in France in the mid-1960's. It had been used to store grease and I had to clean it out.

I knew it was German military, but did not know what it was actually used for when I found it. My Mother was German and when she saw it she said something to the effect, "A gas mask came in it. Everybody had one."

She lead me to believe that all civilians were issued gas masks, but I don't know if this is factual or not.

My hearsay input for what it's worth.

[Simon H]

I found a cannister in France in the mid-1960's. It had been used to store grease and I had to clean it out.

I knew it was German military, but did not know what it was actually used for when I found it. My Mother was German and when she saw it she said something to the effect, "A gas mask came in it. Everybody had one."

She lead me to believe that all civilians were issued gas masks, but I don't know if this is factual or not.

My hearsay input for what it's worth.

Yes, indeed civilians were issued gasmasks, but most were issued in cardboard boxes, the so called Volksmaske. These were made of rubber and look distinctly different to those issued to military and paramilitary organisations. As mentioned before these masks were not issued in the military metal containers. It may well be that your Mothers recollections were of the type shown above and issued to Luftschutz, Police and second line support troops.

[Simon H]

Following on from my earlier posts on this subject I've now added a couple of pages onto my own website to briefly show the development of these in Germany;

Pre-war Air Raid Protection masks
http://www.lerenfort.fsnet.co.uk/page65N.htm

Wartime masks Luftschutz and Armed Forces;
http://www.lerenfort.fsnet.co.uk/page66N.htm

This is a work in progress so there is more to add in future, but I hope it serves to wet the appetite as it were.

[sebastian]

nice website simon,keep it up!

Seb

[Simon H]

Your compliments are very welcome, many thanks Sebastian.