Wehrmacht Rubberized Gas-Cape & Bag, 1943 (Gasplane und Beutel)
Price: $175
BUY / RESERVE THIS ITEMDescription: Mid/ late war rubberized tan-colored snap-closure Gas Cap Bag (or pouch) with its original Anti-yperite Gas Cape that remains mint un-folded with original 1943 labeling. Both appear as unissued. If you want the best this is it. MINT Condition
Background: With the development of poisonous gasses used as offensive weapons in WWI appropriate defensive gas masks also had to be developed. The German WWI M1915 and M1917 gas masks evolved into the Weimar, Reichswehr (1919-1933) era M24 gas mask and eventually into the M30 and M38 gas masks used in WWII. All German Army personnel were issued with a gasmask, carrying canister and accessories and were required to have it readily available at all times. Although the use of chemical warfare agents was considered by the German OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, fear of Allied retribution forced them to reconsider and shelve the idea. Fear of the potential use of chemical warfare agents made the gas mask and canister a constant companion of the German soldier through-out the war. Along with the gas masks, new decontamination tablets, specialized eye glasses and a protective gas cape were also developed. The protective gas capes were issued in a carrying pouch that was to be secured to the shoulder strap of the gas mask canister. The anti-case cape pouch came in at least six slightly different versions with assorted manufacturing materials and colorations.
