WWII Crap
Deutsche Volksmaske VM-40 Civilian Gas Mask
Manufacturer: Auer
Model: VM-40
Replaced: VM-37
Year: 1940
Country: Nazi Germany
Condition: good
Kit Complete: No - missing the box and valve cover
Size: K - Kinder (Children's)
Price: £10
Description: Original 1940 German gas mask
Vendor: private seller on ebay
Shipped from: UK
This is a kids mask - K = Kinder
First Impressions
I fancied getting myself a vintage gas mask at some point. Most of the time though these elderly masks are either too expensive or knackered and falling to bits.
Happily for me I managed to stumble across this fine German example from 1940.
Although this mask did not come with the original cardboard box, value cover and instructions I wasn't perturbed and decided to bid on it.
For £10 + shipping I managed to land a rather nice childrens VM-40 in quite good condition.
With a little bit of isopropanol and a careful hand I managed to removed about 77 years worth of grime which had embedded itself in the rubber.
After I finished cleaning the mask, I looked at it again and found absolutely no cracks or signs of rubber perishing anywhere on the mask. Built to last I reckon.
That's German engineering for you!
Various markings including the Reichsadler symbol
A little bit about the Deutsche Volksmaske VM-40
These rubber masks were issued to the civilian population after 1940, previously there had been a VM-37 in general circulation which this model eventually replaced.
Presumably in 1940 the Nazis thought we Brits, the US or the Russians were considering gas bombing the general public. - which I don't think ever happened. None-the-less they still needed something to protect the public just in case.
The VM-40 was available in four different sizes
Starting from the smallest
K = Kinder (children's)
F = Frauen (Women's)
M = Maenner (Men's)
M-uE = Maenner Uebergr (Men's large)
German school children drilling for a gas attack
As the above picture shows, the VM-40 "K" size (like mine) were issued to every school in Germany during the war.
The above poster tells the Germans population that everyone is to be given a gas mask.
The Filter
This underside is filled with over 100 tiny holes.
Looks like a shower head -
The top of the filter can is stamped with various numbers and letters which I haven't deciphered yet.
⚠⚠Does this Filter contain Asbestos?⚠⚠
Absolutely, make no mistake, the Germans as well as us Brits were making civilian masks with Asbestos filter material inside. Obviously then it's not a very good idea to wear masks of this age with the filter on. (Not that I could get this small mask to go on!) Purely for collecting purposes would be the advice here.
The filter contains different gages of asbestos matetial designed to trap nasty shit
More Reichsadler symbols inside
Inside the face piece we find a strange looking wad of cotton which surrounds the inlet valve. Some have speculated that this was to stop people from banging their teeth against the metal parts when being worn? I'm not sure.The eye pieces are made from glass with plastic anti-fog lenses fitted. These are quite discoloured and I'm thinking of carefully removing them and revealing the original clear glass again.
The exhaling side of the mask is handled by a strange looking flapper valve attached to the nose of the face piece.
This style of valve is typical for the time. Our British duty respirators had a similar flapper installed.
Teddy gets to be the model today
The mask is attached by way of a four point harness. It's made from a fabric material and seems easy to adjust.
This mask is tiny!
There isn't much more to say about this mask, I can't try it on as it's way too small for me. It's in great shape for something that's 77 years old. I'm really pleased to own it.
Rating ✅✅✅✅ 4 out of 5
The mask deserves a higher mark here but it's missing the other stuff like the box etc. It's still worth the investment though. Anyone with an interest in gas masks or the second world war should get one. Just don't wear it!