M30 Gasmask with 'Maskenspanner'
Wehrmacht M30 Gasmask with 'Maskenspanner' (Gasmaske M30 mit Maskenspanner). All German Army personnel were issued with a gasmask, carrying canister and accessories and were required to have it readily available at all times. 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. When the soldier was back in garisson, the mask was not kept in the canister, it was placed on a mask spanner in order to prevent it from being deformed. 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. This is a M30 example mask, this is a rare and hard to find early type with metal mouth-piece, see photos. The aluminum mask spanner is nicely marked and dated 1938. Nice original set in good condition!