Overview
- Brief Narrative
- United States Army issued hand pump insecticide duster of the type used by US troops to delouse concentration camp survivors after liberation in 1945. The standard issued material used by the US Army for louse control was 10% DDT powder. Louse powder was placed in the canister and released through the spray nozzle when the hand pump was depressed. The powder was blown between the underwear and the skin, down the neck of the shirt, up the sleeves and into the trousers in as many directions as possible.
- Date
-
use:
approximately 1945 May
- Geography
-
use:
Europe
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the United States Department of Agriculture ARS Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Lab
- Markings
- canister, near latching lid, embossed : US
- Contributor
-
Distributor:
United States. Army
Physical Details
- Language
- English
- Classification
-
Tools and Equipment
- Category
-
Farming equipment
- Object Type
-
Dust guns (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Green painted, silver colored, metal canister with a vertical seam, 2 central horizontal indents, and a circular screw top lid and latching bottom lid. A metal pump rod with a cylindrical wooden handle is inserted through an opening on the screw lid center. A moveable metal bail handle is attached by 2 plates to the canister on the latch lid end. A cylindrical spray nozzle, missing the tip, is soldered to the canister and extends over the latch lid. The canister has paint loss, scratches, corrosion and adhesive label residue. The screw top lid was not opened for review.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 20.875 inches (53.023 cm) | Width: 3.750 inches (9.525 cm) | Depth: 3.500 inches (8.89 cm)
- Materials
- overall : metal, paint, wood
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The insecticide duster was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Kenneth H. Posey, ex officio, for the United States Department of Agriculture ARS Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Lab.
- Funding Note
- The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-08-16 11:09:21
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn514809
Download & Licensing
In-Person Research
- By Appointment
- Request 21 Days in Advance of Visit
- Plan a Research Visit
- Request to See This Object
Contact Us
Also in United States Department of Agriculture ARS Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Lab collection
The collection consists of two United States Army issued insecticide dusters of the type used in the concentration camps immediately following liberation during and after World War II.
Date: 1944-1945
US Army Model 142 insecticide duster for delousing concentration camp survivors and soldiers
Object
United States Army issued handheld insecticide dusting gun, Model 142, of the type used by US troops to delouse concentration camp survivors after liberation in 1945. The standard issued material used by the US Army for louse control was 10% DDT powder. Louse powder was placed in the canister and released through a pressurized hose. Air passes through the canister and the air tube tip when the control is pushed down. The powder was blown between the underwear and the skin, down the neck of the shirt, up the sleeves and into the trousers in as many directions as possible.
