BACKGROUND: With the development of poisonous gasses used as offensive weapons in WWI appropriate defensive gasmasks also had to be developed. The German WWI M1915 and M1917 gasmasks evolved into the Reichswehr era M24 gasmask and eventually into the M30 and M38 gasmasks 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, (High Command of the Armed Forces), fear of the Allies retribution forced them to reconsider and shelf the idea. Fear of the potential use of chemical warfare agents made the gasmask and canister a constant companion of the German soldier through-out the war. The M30 rubberized fabric or the M38 rubber construction gasmask’s could become susceptible to drying out and potentially cracking or becoming deformed if continually stored in the gasmask canister which resulted in the introduction of the gasmask shape retainer. The gasmask shape retainer was utilized by units in garrison by stretching the gasmask over the retaining frame, simulating the shape it would take when being worn.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The natural aluminum and magnetic spring wire construction gasmask shape retainer features a curved, "T" shaped aluminum "forehead" and "nose" panel and a horizontal, curved, rectangular "chin" panel which are connected by dual magnetic spring wires. The top horizontal arm of the "T" panel would be inserted beneath the top interior lip of the gasmask just above the eye sockets with the bottom vertical arm of the "T" running down in between the eye sockets. The lower, horizontal rectangular panel would be inserted beneath the bottom interior "chin" of the gasmask. The panel attaching magnetic spring wires have dual coils near both the top and bottom panels which would bend providing the required tension to keep the gasmask in the correct shape. Nicely marked and dated. Some surface rust on the steel wire. All the components are intact and the retainer still functions.