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WWII German Army Gas Mask and Carrier -
Chemical warfare (CW) involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together are the three tenets of (NBC), the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical.

The earliest target of chemical warfare agent research was not toxicity, but development of agents that can affect a target through the skin and clothing, rendering protective gas masks useless. In July 1917, the Germans employed mustard gas. Mustard gas easily penetrates leather and fabric to inflict painful burns on the skin.

Chemical warfare agents are divided into lethal and incapacitating categories. A substance is classified as incapacitating if less than 1/100 of the lethal dose causes incapacitation, e.g., through nausea or visual problems. The distinction between lethal and incapacitating substances is not fixed, but relies on a statistical average called the LD50.



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.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. FAQ's
  2. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  3. RZM manufacturing codes
  4. LDO manufacturing codes
  5. Construction materials
  6. Pins, hinges and other
  7. Clothing tags
  8. Perspective view
  9. Purchasing a WWII German collectible






The item featured here is a German WWII gas mask with carrying canister. Even though WWII did not see the use of chemical weapons every soldier was mindful of the previous war and how bad it is to be the target of a gas attack. Every soldier was issued a gas mask and carried it into combat with them.

The german gas mask was built of rubber. The lenses were made of glass. The filter was attached to the lower front of the mask by screwing it in place. Multiple markings were applied to the filter. Some of them were stamped with black ink while others were built into the metal during the manufacturing process.





The canisted employed to carry the mask is made of metal. Ribbed type construction. The inside has aluminum lining. The lid is hinged at one end. A latch is employed to secure it shut. the inside of the lid has a small containerwith a hinged lid of its own. This is where the lense cleaner was stowed. A spring-loaded wire fastener secures the cleaner in place.







It was not unusual for the soldiers to write their names on the equipment. This helped ensure that nobody else would take what did not belong to them. What is interesting about the example shown here is that the soldier stiched his name into the shoulder strap. Usually the names were written with ink.







The bottom of the can has an aluminum wire retainer that holds a cleaning rag in place.

The shoulder straps were made of canvis and had leather re-enforcements at each end. The leather was secured in place via the use of heavy duty cotton thread.





Many German items are currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of the items. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of a german military collectible.



If you have an interest is seeing other collectibles of the Third Reich, you can do so by going to our WWII German Collectibles identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine), Air Force (Luftwaffe), political, civil service, homefront and many more areas.







PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for WWII German military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com. The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Value $100.00 $110.00 $120.00 $130.00 $140.00 $160.00 $170.00 $180.00 $180.00 $190.00 $200.00 $200.00
Availability Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Invest Grade B B B B A A A A A A A A


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


  MARKET ANALYSIS
Mar 1st, 2017
Germans items that were used at the front during WWII have become collectibles. The item featured here is not hard to find. In general the appreciation has been moderate. Recently the value has began to come up some. It is expected that this trend will continue.


 
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