Rare German soldiers GM30 gas mask with maker markings lovely relic condition,very solid used by a soldier in the 12th SS Panzer Division recovered in 2007 in the Ardennes Forest, village of Krinkelt, attacked by them during the Battle

This is a rare find from the battlefield a German soldiers GM30 gas mask near complete.The mask is missing its back straps and filter but other then that its pretty much all there it still has original black colour on the metal pipe connector there is green paintwork still and it also has the eyelets which are dirty but with a clean you can see out of them the mask has many maker markings including dated 1940 on the filter pipe and even has remains of red ink stamp underneath the side rim.The mask is in fantastic condition for its age the rubber does have some damage but is solid and crumbling or braking up and has been nicely cleaned perfect for display or any collection. The mask was used by a soldier of the 12th SS Panzer Division recovered in 2007 from the woods in the Ardennes Forest outside the village of Krinkelt which was attacked on the 17-18 December by them during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-1945. A very rare relic from this famous battle that comes with a A5 laminated information sheet.

During the night of December 17-18, tanks from the 12th SS (now extricated from the mud) broke through the U. S. line and pushed into Krinkelt, only to be expelled by a hasty counterattack. The 12th SS Panzer Division “Hitler Youth” lost 67 of its 136 tanks in the first three days of the battles for Krinkelt and Rocherath.  The fighting was fierce and, because the American soldiers had heard that the SS were shooting captives, few prisoners were taken by either side.