Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 111:
Description
WWII German Wehrmacht Gas Mask Canister (Tragebuechse 38) with Original Carrying Strap – Fluted Steel Case for GM-30/GM-38 Respirator Offered here is a complete German Wehrmacht gas mask canister, or Tragebuechse, standard-issue protective equipment carried by German soldiers throughout the Second World War. No named recipient or individual soldier’s history accompanies this piece; its significance rests in its status as genuine front-line issue equipment rather than any documented personal provenance, the story here being that of standard Wehrmacht field kit rather than a named veteran. First adopted in 1930 and refined into the taller Model 1938 pattern represented by this example, the fluted steel canister was designed to be slung across the back or chest on a webbing strap, keeping the soldier’s respirator, filter cartridge, and spare lens instantly accessible in the event of a gas attack. Though large-scale chemical warfare never materialized on the Western or Eastern Fronts as it had during the First World War, the canister remained compulsory issue for every combat soldier, and period photographs from Poland, France, North Africa, and the Eastern Front consistently show the distinctive fluted tube worn across the body. Its interior compartment was designed to hold the folded rubber respirator, spare eyepiece lenses, and cleaning cloth, while the hinged, latching lid kept moisture and debris out under field conditions. The canister is constructed of pressed and fluted sheet steel, retaining a discernible original paint finish with expected surface wear, scattered minor surface rust, and edge oxidation consistent with extended field use. The hinged closure lid operates on its latch mechanism, and the pull-tab closure remains present. The original canvas/webbing carrying strap survives intact and attached, a component frequently lost, broken, or repurposed after the war, which adds meaningfully to the completeness and collectability of this example. No respirator, filter, insignia, or paperwork accompanies this lot; as catalogued, this is the canister and strap alone. Condition is consistent with honest period field use: expected paint loss and light oxidation throughout, with the metal body remaining solid and structurally sound and the strap supple and complete. A solidly complete, honestly worn example of standard-issue Wehrmacht gas mask equipment, distinguished by the survival of its original carrying strap – a detail too often missing from surviving examples on today’s market.
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