Shown at the pictures here below is a WW2 German ‘Tauchretter’, a rebreather apparatus developed by Draegerwerk to allow Uboat crews to escape from their vessel in case it breaks down / sinks. Draeger developed this apparatus but since German manufacturers who supply to the military must have a partner company who is able to manufacture exactly the same apparatus, Auer was chosen to join Draeger with the production of these Tauchretters ( and other Draeger diving / respiration apparatus ) The reason was that when one company would be put out of business for some reason ( bomb attack etc. ) the other company could take over the production. Auer currently seems to exist in some joint venture with MSA.
Auer WW2 Tauchretter
Photo above: WW2 German ‘Tauchretter’, a rebreather apparatus developed by Draegerwerk to allow Uboat crews to escape from their vessel in case it breaks down / sinks. Photo David L.Dekker
Photo above: assumed to be an Auer copy of the Dräger 138 rebreather. Do you have any additional info on this apparatus then please contact me. Thanks. Photograph David L.Dekker
‘DiveScrap’Index
the scrapbook of diving history
Auer Schwimmtauchergerät Mod 138 of Franz Cech
Photo below: assumed to be an Auer made copy of the Dräger 138 rebreather as developed by Dräger in coöperation with the Austrian scientist Prof. Hans Hass from Vienna, Austria. Hass gained fame by giving lectures, making films and writing books about his diving adventures in the 40’s and 50’s mainly. Later he continued writing books. Less famous was another Austrian, also living in Vienna who made films of his underwater adventures and gave lectures on them: Franz Cech. Franz dived a rebreather which was nearly identical to the rebreather of Hans Hass, but where Hass rebreather was made by Drägerwerk in Lübeck, Cech’s apparatus seems to be made by Auer. The harness and counter lung do not show any markings but the valves at the tanks are clearly signed Auer. Only two of these units appear to exist: the other one is in the Berlin SCUBA museum where more items from Franz Cech are in display.
