#World war two german gas mask skin#

However, animals remained a crucial part of the war effort. Horse and camel-mounted troops were used in the desert campaigns throughout the war, but on the Western Front, new weapons like the machine gun made cavalry charges increasingly difficult. In 1914, both sides had large cavalry forces. For years few knew of the unimaginable suffering of the beasts transported across the Channel to the Western Front. This is the forgotten tragedy of the Great War – a conflict that pitched as many animals into the line of fire as it did humans.

Of the million British horses sent overseas to help with the war effort, only 62,000 returned home. Horses were equipped with gas masks over their muzzles and were protected from inhalation of poison gases such as phosgene.Įquine eyes were not affected by lachrymatory agents so that their masks consisted only of specially made nose bags but, unfortunately, these animal’s eyes were vulnerable to the effects of chlorine and vesicatory gases. Horses, mules, dogs, and pigeons were vulnerable to poison gases so that special protection was necessary for them. Many animals were used during World War One. The article was written by Robert Halvorsen based upon previous knowledge, but details were fact-checked against the .Two German soldiers and their mule wearing gas masks in World War One, 1916 Losantin decontamination kits were still used until the end of the war.Ī great article on this topic can be found at, a comprehensive website filled with very complete information on the topic. This system used a plastic bottle of pre-mixed decontamination ointment with gauze pads to apply it. Realizing this, the Wehrmacht designed a new system and began issuing it in 1941. This process was cumbersome and time-consuming, both heavily undesirable factors when considering that immediate treatment of blister agent exposure is necessary to significantly counteract the effects of the agent.

#World war two german gas mask skin#

The paste was then spread on any skin exposed to blister agents using a gauze pad. The soldier was supposed to crush the tablet into a powder, and then add water to turn it into a paste. The first issue decontamination kit was a Bakelite container that held Losantin tablets. The gas cape was often strapped to the side of the canister for ease of use. Some canisters had a lining of aluminum sheet metal. The straps allowed it to be carried at the small of the back, which limited the potential unwieldy nature of the canister, keeping it out of the way for the soldier to use his weapon, go prone, and whatever else was necessary. The inside of the canister lid had a small container for gas mask antifog lens inserts, which in an emergency could also be used to replace broken gas mask lenses. The cleaning cloth was officially kept at the bottom of the canister, and was held down by a spring system designed for the carrier. The canister was waterproof when closed, and protected the mask from being jostled, bumped, and smashed due to its sturdy metal construction. The German gas mask carrier during WWII was a metal canister. Decontamination kits were also issued, in two types. Some were also issued with a rubberized 'gas cape', which was a chemical-resistant sheet that one was supposed to throw over themselves should blister agents be deployed. Every soldier was issued a gas mask, which was kept in a metal canister. Having learned from the chemical warfare of WWI, however, Germany wanted to keep its army protected against chemical warfare. Germany, the Soviet Union, and Britain all had large stockpiles of chemical munitions- the Germans had a slight edge in having the first nerve gases, but knew better than to push chemical warfare into the mix. Germany had an interesting approach to gas protection in WWII.