U.S. Army Gas Mask

This mask represents the war’s devastating impact—when the first large-scale use of chemical weapons left 1.3 million dead or injured. In response to German gas attacks, the newly established Chemical Warfare Service developed strategies to deal with toxic agents such as mustard gas. The Army also issued filter respirator masks, like this one that belonged to Private John Schaffranek.

LI-2016-37.02