WWII German Luftschuts Gas Mask -
The Luftschutz was the German civil defense. Their job was to take civilians to safety when allied aircraft
conducted bombing raids on the cities. Help clean the streets from debri after bombing raids. Help fight
fires. etc. This force was one of the last lines of defense as the Third Reich collapsed udner the weight of
the allied invasion.
The item featured here is a Luftschutz gas mask.
A gas mask is a mask put on over the face to protect the wearer from inhaling "airborne pollutants" and toxic
gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable
soft tissues of the face. Some gas masks are also respirators, though the word gas mask is often used to refer
to military equipment (The user of the gas mask is not protected from gas that the skin can absorb).
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German collectibles. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German collectible worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the collectibles is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
items in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The gas mask metal carrier is the same type as used by the military forces. it has a round metal lid hinges to
one end. A clamp with a pull-tab englage the clamp to a stud on the side of the body, securing the lid shut.
Brackets placed alongside serve as anchors for teh shoulder strap used by the person to carry the gas mask.
Lense cleaning cloths are housed in a square metal container that is secured to the inside of the lid. The
cleaning pads are individually wrapped in a clear bag.
The filter for this mask was screwed to the lower section of the mask. It was painted green and was marked with
a series of stamps done in black paint. The lower section of the filter has a paper strip glued to it. This
contains a series of instructions and identifying markings. Part of it reads "S-Filtereinsatz fur den
zivilien Luftschutz".
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