Gas mask

[Adibach]

Did the German soldier have to carry the Gas mask right till the end of the war or was it optional to not a carry it?
Ive seen lots of late war photos and films with soldiers without it

[MP44_tom]

Until the end, the germans were afraid of gas attacks, so I'm sure the average german soldier carried their gas masks under all circumstances.

Yes, there are stories of the canister being used for food etc, with the masks thrown away, and probably these stories are partly true, but the organization of the german troops were very strict, and I'm sure a soldier wouldn't be caught without masks.

Also, the gas inspections of the gas masks were regulated until the end of the war (the manuals developed and printed late 44 are a proof of this)

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[Gran Sasso]

the organization of the german troops were very strict, and I'm sure a soldier wouldn't be caught without masks.

True - my grandfather once left the train in Berlin in late 1944, and realized (after train had moved on) he had forgotten his gasmask inside.

Feared another "holiday" in the arrest bunker (typical Berlin-guy he always opens his mouth before thinking, even to officers... ;-)) he quickly went to the "wehrmacht lost and found office" at the station.

He just was about to mention what he lost when an army offc. rushed in, pushing him (Gefreiter) aside, and started loud and hectic argumentation with the clerk.

"bloody axxhole" were the thoughts of my granddad standing back at the wall, when his eyes caught the offc.´s luggage he had just thrown in a corner when entered the room - on top lay his gasmask...

My granddad left silently ;-)

Now the problem of the lost gasmask was solved - but he faced a new one: he was LW (FJ), and the gasmaks he has now was green. At night a buddy responsible for the wepaons painted it blue for him.

[Jean-Loup]

In the field, period photos prove that soldiers rarely wore their gas mask later in the war. They were probably kept nearby in vehicles or billets, etc.

[siton12]

Most precious pieces of information...I thank you both,Tom and Patrick
Notis

[DTVPKING]

Here in ex-Yugoslavia in one village all germans threw their gas masks in a 200l barrell. The cannisters were used for food or something else. Looks like they realised there is going to be no gas attacks or so. I heard that the barrell was found but all the masks were rotten.