German gas mask and case : Luftschutz Warndienst

German Luftschutz green rubber gas mask with aluminium filter canister. The mask is a pull-on full head style with yellow plastic eyepieces and a one-way rubber exhaust valve in front of the nose. The inside of the mask is stamped with a blue ink box containing the following; 'RL1 - 38/4 Vertrieb gemass & 8 Luftschutzgesetz genehm (obscured)'. Below this is the serial number '129512 4 28'. Other black ink stamps reading 'M-P 22' and 'A-W-D 24' are also present, as well as a small German eagle and swastika marking. On the outside of the rubber is a small orange paint stamp of the German eagle and swastika above the marking 'Wa A 320'. The section inside the mask above the canister has a one-way rubber and steel inlet valve encircled by a thick band of compressed paper. The valve is crimped onto the mask by an external metal band. The removable screw-in canister is made of unpainted aluminium with the embossed figures 'RL1. 38/4' and '5 125' on its upper face. Black ink figures reading '293' and '140' as well as a small swastika and eagle symbol over the marking 'Wa. A. 320' are also present. The mask is in its original 'Ersatz' black cylindrical case made of paper and cardboard which is lined with a black and brown marbled paper. The carrying strap and attachment loop are also made of paper. Stamped in white paint on the outside of the case is a box containing 'RL1 - 39/55 Vertrieb gem. & 8 Luftschutz-Gez.gen.' Below this in small letters are the makers details 'Eugen Suhl NachF. Berlin'. A brown paper label pasted inside the lid reads 'Gebrauchsanweisung. Bei ber Maske mit eingeschraubtem Filter sind die Augenscheiben so von hinten nach vorn zusammen zu falten, dass das Ausatemventil in der Mitte steht. Filter auf den Boden des Behalters legen und Kappe moglichst faltenfrei ordnen. Lagerung dunkel und kuhl. Klarscheiben night befassen.'

The Luftschutz Warndienst (LSW) or Air Raid Warning Service had a variety of roles, including the observation, reporting and analysis of aircraft movements over Germany, and the sounding of air raid alarms and 'all clear' signals for the civilian populace. In liaison with Police forces, it was also responsible for all services provided during and immediately after raids. Like most air raid wardens in combatant countries, Luftschutz staff were supplied with respirators in case of a gas attack. The mask and cannister are both manufactured using a minimum of strategically important resources, with heavy use of paper based material.