German "Maskenbrille" eyeglasses for gas masks

Stahlhelm

Stahlhelm

Active member
These spectacles, specifically designed to be worn with the gas mask, were issued for front-line use to soldiers requiring eyeglasses. Since the metal arms on the regular Dienstbrille (service glasses) prevented the mask from fitting tightly against the face, the Maskenbrille had short double arms onto which adjustable cotton tapes were sewn. These tapes were looped around the ears and didn't interfere with the mask's fit. These were apparently the only eyeglasses allowed to be worn in the front lines.

This set is complete with the case and its contents. A paper instruction label is glued to the lid's interior, and the main compartment is divided by a section of red felted cardboard which, when lifted, reveals a set of spare cotton tapes along with a needle and thread for field repairs.
Hans

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Tony & Kaiser said:
Great photo Hans. Question: How do you tell between 1st and 2nd war Maskenbrillen? I've never quite got that.
Click to expand...

Hey Tony,
They were the same, but I believe that these are WWII versions, because of the font. WWI Brille should have the instructions written in Fractur. When I was traveling in Austria, a friend told me that that the little corporal had done two things that had stuck, he abolished Fractur (and Sutterlin) and imposed a church tax, I asked about the Volkwagen, and he said "OK, three things".
Best wishes
Gus
 
After waiting for all the photos to load, the box is marked DRMG, that makes me think I am wrong, was that used after WWI? And the later boxes were grey in colour.
Gus
 
Thanks for the replies. Gustaf, I wouldn't have prattled on about them if I weren't sure they were WW1. :D I've been looking for these for a very long time now, while the WW2 versions are quite common.

The differences are quite evident once you've compared them. With the WW2 version, the eyeglasses themselves are more advanced looking, the short arms stubbier, the ear loops are attached and adjusted in a completely different manner; unlike the WW1 versions, they're not sewn in place and have no adjustment buckles on the straps themselves. The case is usually painted grey with Masken-Brille stencilled on the lid.
Pics of WW2 M-Brille I found.
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The cotton tapes on WW1 Maskenbrillen have an adjuster buckle which is essentially a miniature version of the buckle found on WW1 cap band covers.

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Gustaf, regarding the instruction label; I have seen roughly 4 or 5 other WW1 M-Brille cases so far, and none of these had the instructions written in Fraktur. Both typefaces were used during WW1, and examples of this can be seen on the paper instruction discs that came with gas mask canisters, although in this case Fraktur seems to be much more common. Fraktur was still used throughout WW2 and even post war.
Hans
 
Hey Hans,
Thanks for the great lesson, I have been looking, and the more I looked , the more I realized I was wrong, I passed a correct pair up years ago because of the Font on the instructions, and I am kicking myself now. With out being able to compair the two side by side, it is very difficult to tell the difference, but with this thread, there should be not problem in the future. The big difference I notice between your Brille and the WWII versions I have been able to find is the box, all WWII boxes I have seen have been grey with Masken-brille on the cover.
As far as the use of non Fractur font, I have found that in some of my items as well, I just had not paid that much attention.
Bes twihes
Gus
 
Nice lesson . I knew the WW2 version had shorter arms , But that is the first set i have seen modern pic's of. I have been told that eye glasses adopted a flt panel on the side for use under most WW1 mask's , I had never heard about the front line only rule before for German troops .
Mark
 
Mark, the order for only M-Brillen to be worn in the front lines makes sense because otherwise the soldier would have to remove his regular glasses, don the M-Brille and finally his gas mask, wasting precious seconds during a gas attack. On the instrucion label it states: Die Brille darf in der vorderen Stellung auch waehrend der Ruhe nicht abgelegt werden - "These glasses may not be removed in forward positions, even during rest (periods)."

I haven't been able to find any information on when these glasses were first developed and issued.
Hans
 
The WWI cases are also often marked "Dienst-Brille". The WWI cases that I have seen are not marked on the lid and are usually are devoid of any paint and rather have a lacquered (japanned) look to the finish.

Chip
 
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