VM-40

The VM-40 mask is a German civilian mask whose production began in 1940. It was the successor of the VM-37 mask, from which it differed in that it was a face mask, not a hood mask. The reason was cheaper production because hooded masks are more expensive than face masks. Production costs were also the reason why VM-40 masks were made of black rubber rather than green rubber in the late war. The masks were produced in 4 sizes K, F, M, MU (Kinder, Frauen, Maenner, Maenner Uebergr). My mask is marked on the cardboard RL1-39/86 (photo 25) which means that it was manufactured by Auer. Interestingly, the original cord for wearing the mask around the neck has been preserved in the box (see photo 28). The mask is made of rubber which gives the impression that there is a material inside (it is possible that it is) and by far the most characteristic point of the mask is its "nose"-shaped exhalation valve. It works as shown in photo 32. The mask has a standard 38 millimeter thread. The filter included in the set (a filter because it does not have an absorber that absorbs solid particles, e.g. sand) is RL1, the so-called "shower head", It was called so because of its appearance similar to shower heads.