Gas van

The gas van is a masterpiece of industrial design, the pinnacle of rationalized mass transportation. And yet, it is shrouded in a fog of misunderstanding, hysteria, and excessive moral panic. Critics, blinded by emotion, depict it as an inhumane instrument of oppression, whereas in reality, it is simply a transport vehicle with an extraordinarily efficient passenger management system. This vehicle was created for maximum efficiency. It minimizes time, costs, and space—resulting in a swift, clean, and final solution for passenger transport, relieving them of any concerns about their destination. The journey is one-way, without unnecessary stops, and with a guaranteed silence on board.
== Development and Soviet use ==
The development of the gas van began in the 1930s in the Soviet Union, where—unsurprisingly—it gets COLD in winter. Buses existed, but their heating was woefully inadequate. The only one who enjoyed warmth was the driver, because proletarian comfort wasn’t exactly a priority back then. That was, until the comrades at the Kharkov Mechanical Transport Plant (KhMDB) realized that while the revolution had secured workers' rule, it had not secured their comfort on the way to the factories. And so, an idea was born: let’s heat people with exhaust fumes. A technological breakthrough that would redefine mass transportation.
The solution was simple. Take a random GAZ truck with a featureless metal box on the back, reroute the exhaust directly into the passenger compartment, and guarantee maximum thermal efficiency. Windows? Unnecessary. Heat would escape, and besides, passengers would waste time staring outside instead of contemplating the tasks of the Five-Year Plan. The first tests were an overwhelming success. The interior stayed at a pleasant 19°C, confirmed by a mercury thermometer. The only minor issue was that all test passengers died. But in the grand scheme of socialist transportation, this was just an unfortunate detail—after all, what are a few lives compared to scientific progress?
And so, in 1936, gas vans were officially integrated into transport fleets across the USSR. They proved especially effective in Moscow, where their reliability ensured that every worker who boarded in the morning was never late for a shift again. Party officials praised how efficiently demand for return journeys was eliminated. However, a problem arose. Not a technical one—the system worked flawlessly. The issue was that passengers had an inconvenient tendency to disappear too quickly. Statistics showed a steady decline in daily ridership, while drivers somehow survived (thanks to a separate ventilation system in the cab—a simple partition). It soon became clear that even in the Soviet Union, a certain number of citizens were still necessary. And so, with great regret, in 1940, gas vans were retired from urban public transport.
== German use ==
In Germany, the situation was different. In the early 1940s, they were winning wherever they could, except for Britain. However, the development of luxury hotel transport in Germany began when it became clear that traditional rail transport was not comfortable and efficient enough. It was necessary to ensure that special guests could be transported to five-star hotels with first-class service quickly, comfortably and without unnecessary delays. And so German engineers got to work. Given that Germany had a strong automotive industry, it decided on an innovative solution - instead of complicated train transport, it began developing special luxury vans that were to take guests directly to hotels. Designers at Magirus-Deutz, Opel and other companies were tasked with creating a vehicle that would ensure the smooth movement of a larger number of passengers and at the same time provide them with first-class care during the journey itself.
The first requirement was to ensure an optimal climate in the interior. Therefore, the bodywork was carefully sealed and the heating system redesigned to provide a constant supply of hot air. Passengers were guaranteed not to be cold even in the harshest winter conditions. The interior temperature was around a pleasant 24 °C, which was confirmed by a new Wunderwaffe and 11 out of 10 passengers recommended the vehicle, eventhough 12 of them died. The supply of fresh air was solved by a revolutionary circulation system that used the engine exhaust gases to create a specific atmosphere that passengers quickly got used to. Up to 60 guests could relax in complete privacy on the way to their hotel in Poland, as the windows were removed so that they would not be disturbed by external influences. Of course, the driver had a separate cabin with his own air supply so that he could concentrate on the smooth running of the journey.
Upon arrival, the guests found themselves in an exclusive five-star hotel, where all the staff had been trained to ensure the most comfortable stay. The clients were looked after with the utmost care – the staff took care of their food, accommodation, safety and regular daily routine. Modern gas spa complexes were also available, offering special cleansing treatments using chambers and showers. The efficiency of the hotel system was admirable – all guests underwent a uniform regime, thanks to which their stay was not only organised, but also very intensive. This revolutionary system of transport and accommodation proved so successful that it spread throughout Europe. Although the declining number of passengers at the end of the war caused the decline of this innovative program, history remembered it as a unique example of German precision and attention to detail. And most importantly – no guest ever left the hotel later than planned.
== Specs ==
=== Chassis and drive ===
Manufacturers: Magirus-Deutz, Opel Blitz, Mercedes-Benz, Saurer, GAZ, many others
Chassis type: Medium-duty truck with modified box body
Weight: 3.5 - 7 tons (depending on model)
Drive: Rear-wheel drive, some variants with 6x4 drive
Transmission: 4-5-speed manual transmission
=== Engine and power ===
Engine type: Diesel or petrol, depending on manufacturer
Power: 50-95 hp
Maximum speed: 60-80 km/h 
Fuel tank: 70-100 liters
Fuel consumption: 18-30 l/100 km
=== Interior and equipment ===
Passenger capacity: 30-60 people
Ventilation system: Exhaust gas recirculation to ensure optimal interior temperature
Windows: Closed box compartment, absence side windows
Entrance: Double rear doors for easy entry and exit
Heating: Integration of exhaust system directly into the passenger compartment
=== Safety and operation ===
Driver's cabin: Separate, with independent ventilation system
Maintenance: Minimal requirements, engine and axles taken from conventional trucks
Lifespan: Vehicles typically served for 1–2 years before being scrapped
Identification: Often provided with civilian or military markings for discreet operation
== See also ==
Soviet Union
Holocaust
Jew
Nazism
Category:Cars
Category:Transportation
Category:Shameless Verbatim Translations
Category:Nazism
Category:Communism
Category:Weapons of Mass Destruction