The piece of equipment in the photo appears to be a gas mask, which was necessary for both sides in World War 1 due to the widespread use of chemical weapons during the conflict. Gas attacks were common on the Western Front, with soldiers being exposed to mustard gas, chlorine gas, and phosgene gas, among others. Gas masks were essential for protecting soldiers from the deadly effects of these chemical agents, allowing them to continue fighting in the challenging conditions of trench warfare. Both sides in World War 1 recognized the importance of gas masks in protecting their troops, and as a result, they were issued to soldiers on both the Allied and Central Powers sides.
