Gas Mask and Respirator Wiki
Gas Mask and Respirator Wiki
Gas Mask and Respirator Wiki
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GM15

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BRIEF HISTORY

Germany was one of the first nations to develop and use war gases and therefore also developed the first protective masks, but those were more of a part time solution. So in 1915 they started testing the first model of what we now refer to as the “GM15”. The term GM15 is not a real designation, but more of a collector’s term. The first model of the “GM15” was named the “Gummimaske”. Contrary to intuition the mask is in fact not made out of rubber, but is made out of a ruberised fabric. These models were made in very small quantities and were quickly replaced by the 2nd type named the Linienamske. It was known under that name due to the facepiece production. It differs from the prototype in that the filter is now removable via a 40mm DIN thread, which is also the first instance of this standard being used (it is still used today under the STANAG standard). The mask proved to be better, but still flawed. The edge of the mask wouldn’t make a seal with the face, therefore a periferal seal was made was added. Thus the 3rd model was made. The so called “Rahmenmaske”. Besides a periferal seal the metal parts were also shrunken (it was the same diameter as the filter now). The next and also last modification to the mask was the addition of springed harnesses, but those were produced for a very short time because in 1917 it was already replaced, by the Ledermaske (GM17).  

OVERVIEW OF THE VARIATNS[]


Type 1 or "Gummimaske"[]

The mask features 2 circular eyepieces with the lenses made out of celuloid. It features a large filter that was directly fitted to the mask via a so called bayonet thread. Not many of these surive and are very rare.

Type 2 or "Linenmaske"[]

The mask is the similar to the previous one. The biggest difference are the new metal parts. Including a 40mm thread.

Type 3 or "Linenmaske"[]

Features new cheek pouches, which are used to defog the lenses (similar to the US CE masks). The metal parts are smaller.

Type 4 or "Stoffmaske"[]

Identical to the earlier one in all except of the addition of new elastic spring straps (like on the TC38 or GM30).

Threading[]

Due to the newly introduced 40mm DIN threading the mask could accept a filter or a hose which would lead into a rebreather.

During the course of the war multiple filter types were produced, which would be better than the last.

Model 1915[]

The first filter which came with this mask was very basic, the steel canister only contains activated carbon soaked with 40% potassium carbonate.

Model 11/11[]

This later filter was updated to be more effective against new chemical agents appeared in the later years of the war. The steel canister is now contains 3 layers separated with steel sieves. The first layer is activated carbon soaked with 40% potassium carbonate just like in the Model 1915. The next, midle, layer is pure activated carbon. The third layer contains diatomite soaked with 40% potassium carbonate, hexamine and piperasine.

Carrying systems[]

When introduced the mask was carried in a small bag (Segeltuchtasche), which was carried on the belt. The first pattern of bags were partitioned into 3 parts, one was reserved for a can containing the mask, the other two were for spare filters. This soon proved to be a bit impractical, so the 2nd pattern of bags has only two compartements. The gas mask can and one of the filter ones were combined into a singular canister, which was the predecessor of the "Bereitschaftsbuechse". The second filter canister was still kept, but after a short while the whole bag was scrapped and propper one piece canisters were produced. There were a lot of canisters being produced and also ersatz ones (made due to resource shortages). The soldier could still receive a small filter bag, but the canister was now carried over the shoulder using a canvas or sometimes leather strap. Some canisters also had mask instructions on the bottom of the canister. Later ones also got compartements for antifogging lenses (at first 2 wires, later with the GM17 a whole small door).

The example pictured here is an Austrian production, whereas a German one can be seen in the picture of the mask above. *this part will be improved n the future.

Sometimes masks can be found with a cloth around the metal parts, this was a "field modification" by soldiers and was also encouraged, because it would lower the chances of the mask being damaged when taken or put inside the carrying tin.

Users[]

  • Flag-de-kf Deutsches Heer (Imperial German Army)

  • Flag-ah Kaiserlich und Königlich Armee (Austro-Hungarian Royal Army)

Prior to the Monte San Michele gas attack (29. Juni 1916) by the Austro-Hungarian empire the masks were bought from Germany and were issued to the army (in Austrian: Kaiserlich und Königlich Landwehr, shortened version: K. u. K., in Hungarian: Császári és Kiályi Hadsereg) to complete the protection of the soldiers beside of the rebreathers and M.15/15M masks. The only aspects where the K.u.K. used GM15 masks differed from the GM15 were the K. u. K. stamps on the left side of the facepiece and on the valve and the size number are under the manufacturing date. Most of these masks were used in action during the gas attacks on the Italian front at the battlefields of Isonzo and Doberdo. It was called as Stoffmaske (cloth mask), Gummimaske (Rubber mask) or Rahmenmaske (Frame mask). Note Austria both imported and localy produced masks. The imported masks have an ink K.u.K stamp on the metal parts, whereas the locally produced ones have a K.u.K indentation on the metal part.

The M1915 (1915M is the Hungarian designation; same as for example the 95M and M95, which are the same rifle just designated differentelly) came in 2 variants one with a large celuloid lense and the other with 2 circular eye lenses like the GM15 type masks. The Austrian mask was of poor quality for example the filter falling off due to poor glue. As of writing in 2025 three of the panoramic variants survive, but there may be more in private collections. The surviving examples are stored at the Military Museum in Budapest, the Military Museum in Vienna and one is also preserved in the Fort Leonard Wood archive.

  • Bulgaria:

The Kingdom of Bulgaria as part of the Central powers bought GM15 masks from Germany.

Gallery[]

Instructions[]

The K. u. K. Kriegsministeriums (also known as Kaiserlich und Königlich) released an instructions manual both for the GM15 and Dräger-Tübben.

Trench Leaflet[]

M.17/17M[]

The M.17 or 17M, depending on the language is the direct Austro-Hungarian copy of the GM15, but the same designation can be used for the imported GM15 masks as well.

Mask[]

The facepiece is made of rubber-coated pale grey colored canvas. The celluloid eyepieces are in metal assemblies. Due to lack of Tissot-tube system and antifog inserts, the cheeks were designed bigger so the user could wipe off the fog with them but these "wiping wrinkles" are much smaller than on the GM15. The valve is in a metal house, the intake is the exhale valve too. This causes that the user has to blow out the air hard. The harness is 6 pointed and not adjustable, but the straps are rubberized. There are two types. One with K.u.K. stamps and GM15-styled eyepieces and one with the impressed metal stamp K.u.K. marking and has different updated eyepieces, this later variant uses the same shape of facepiece as the GM17.

Filter[]

The filter comes in a light grey painted cylindrical canister. First, the mask was used with German-made 11-C-11 filter and later with Austrian-made N-D, S-N-D and S-N-S filters which were the same as the 11-C-11. The Austrian-made ones had later variants which could protect better against Hydrogen cyanide, the letters were framed on those.

History[]

The production started in Austria around 1916 but the factory is unknown. The M.17 and 17M designation can be used for both Austrian made GM15 masks and German-made GM15 masks as both were used alongside each other. After the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed in 1918 the countries established or broke away continued to use the mask. Austria used it till the M.27. Hungary used it as 18M (not to confuse it with the Austro-Hungarian used GM17) and all previously mentioned filters were called 18M. In 1927 all were modernised to be a 27M. Young Czechoslovakia started to use it as one of the first mask in their army till the Vz.23 was designed. Rumours say that it was used by Yugoslavia and Poland as well.

Gallery[]

27M[]

The 27M is repaired 17M and 18M masks. The first "Hungarian" mask after the First World War.

Overview[]

Just like the GM15 and M.17/17M it is made of rubber-coated grey colored canvas. The eyepieces are in metal assemblies, a bit more modern than that on the GM15 because now it has anti-fog insert fixing ring. Due to lack of Tissot-tube system and antifog inserts, the cheeks were designed bigger so the user could wipe off the fog with them. The valve is in a metal house, the intake is the exhale valve too. This causes that the user has to blow out the air hard. The harness is 6 pointed and not adjustable, but the straps are rubberized. There are two types. One only with Hungarian markings and one with the K.u.K. marking is still visible on the metal mould. The carrying canister was the same as on the 17M. It was mostly used on training.

Filter[]

Main article: 27M filter The filter was the same as the 18M however all were refilled. Filters with a red "Gy" and line are training filters (Hungarian: Gyakorló).

Photos[]

References[]

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