Camouflaged gasmask canister – Luftwaffe – Peter Konrad Normandy KIA
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: The shown gasmask canister is of the tall model and features a wartime applied two tone “Normandy” camouflage pattern.
A very nice original two tone Normandy camouflage gasmask canister named to Konrad , Lg. Paris, L37114 . The canister still retains its bright camouflage colours and a Feldpostnumber inside the lid L37114 referring to the following units:
37114
(Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) 3. Batterie
Reserve-Festungs-Flak-Abteilung 331
(30.7.1941-28.2.1942) 4. Batterie Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 497
(12.3.1943-7.9.1943) 6. Batterie gemischte Flak-Abteilung 497 (v)
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 24.8.1944 6. Batterie gemischte
Flak-Sturm-Abteilung 497 (v)
(25.11.1944-Kriegsende) 5.1.1945 12. Batterie Flak-Sturm-Regiment
1.
The canister was found in Normandy after the battle. Peter Konrad was killed in action on 19.06.1944 in Neuilly, Normandy and is buried at La Cambe, Block 28 Row 9 Grave 349.
M. Claes Collection
