Gas mask : German Army

German Army Lederschutzmaske (Leather protection mask) respirator. The mask is made from a single piece of chrome-tanned sheepskin dipped in an oil sealant solution, the black tanned surface towards the wearer's face, and the single seam running under the chin. This seam, and the folded edge of the mask, are coated with a black sealant lacquer. The eyepieces are made of two layers of clear celluloid set in painted circular steel frames with leather gaskets where they are let into the mask. Internally, the eyepieces have removable metal 'wheels' enabling the inner layer (which is coated with gelatine to absorb moisture) to be replaced. Grey cotton headstraps (one above and below the ear on each side, and one above each eye) are held tightly upon the face by coiled springs inside cotton sleeves. A long grey cotton webbing strap attached near the chin enables the mask to be suspended around the neck. There are a number of illegible stamped markings on the headstraps and inside the mask. A green painted circular steel plate with a threaded socket and the raised marking 'A1' is let into the mask opposite the wearer's nose and mouth. The number '175' is also stamped in red on this plate. A twisted paper cord passes through a loop on the front of the plate, extends up between the eyepieces, and attaches to a metal button on the headstraps. The respirator canister, which is also made of green painted steel, screws into the faceplate, using a standard thread pattern mass produced by 'Osram' for use on light bulbs and fittings. The top of the canister has the raised marking 'P4', the number '91' in red and 'B 10. Jan. 18 11-C-11' in black. On the bottom of the canister are the remnants of a waxed paper covering to prevent chemicals or moisture from entering, and which would have been torn off prior to use. Clipped on to the bottom of the canister is a removable steel extension piece which contains a disk of white filter paper backed with steel mesh.

The 'Lederschutzmaske' was introduced into German Army service in late 1917. It was intended to address the acute shortage of raw materials (particularly rubber) in Germany, by using available supplies of leather and a minimum of metal parts. The new mask was ingenious, utilising metal springs instead of elastic in the head straps, and incorporating a system of replaceable gelatine-coated celluloid eyepieces to combat the fogging which plagued most respirators of the period. It suffered, however, from many of the drawbacks inherent in earlier German designs. Because no expiration valve was provided, used air had to be exhaled through the filter canister, greatly increasing the volume of moisture absorbed, and reducing the effective life of the canister to half an hour or less in heavy concentrations of gas. The leather had an unpleasant smell, and was very slow to dry if wet. It was also stiff, chafed the wearer, and was difficult to fit snugly. The positioning of the eyepieces made it hard to aim a rifle while wearing the mask. The clip-on extension to the canister was introduced in May 1918, and used initially by assault troops to combat British Stannic Chloride and German 'Blue Cross' (Diphenylchloroarsine) 'smoke' gasses, whose small, inert particles were penetrating German masks. The extension was not generally considered effective against these gasses, and had the unpleasant side effect of offering high resistance to breathing, thus making every intake of air an effort for the wearer, and further increasing retention of moisture in the canister.