Camouflaged gasmask canister – Battle damaged two tone camouflage

Throughout world war two the German army issued and carried gas masks. After the terrible experiences in world war one these where thought of as one of the most important pieces of equipment issued. The Germans utilized every gasmask with a metal canister so to keep the gasmask in good usable condition. The metal cases where first introduced in world war one and further evolved through the Reichswehr and ultimately in 1935 by the Wehrmacht. Several small changes where made to the canisters appearance ranging from the length of the canister to sealing the lid of the canister to make it dust tight.

Notes: This gasmask canister has a large battle damage to the side which also damaged the gasmask. The piece was most probably hit by shrapnel. On the bottom the canister is named to M. Schumacher.

The inside of the lid a Feldpostnummer is stamped which corresponds to the following units:

L49451 

(2.1.1940-11.3.1943) leichte Flak-Batterie z.b.V. Division Hermann Goring, 

(12.3.1943-7.9.1943) z.b.V. BatterieFlak-Regiment Hermann Goring, dann 19. Batterie Flak-Regiment Hermann Goring, dann 9. Batterie Flak-Regiment Hermann Goring, 

(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 4.8.1944 9. Batterie Fallschirm-Flak-Regiment Hermann Goring, 

(25.11.1944-8.5.1945) 19.12.1944 10. Batterie Fallschirm-Flak-Regiment Hermann Goring.

Matthias Schumacher was born on 14-8-1921 and was reported missing in action on  1-1-1945. He is still reported as missing in action.

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