The invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of particles contained in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines in which the exhaust gas flow is guided through a filter medium in which particles can be absorbed and held back (4) . The invention should improve the separation in a cost effective manner with respect to conventional particle filters. In accordance with the invention, the filter medium (1) is made from a metal open-pore foam having at least two layers (11, 12, 13) which each have a thickness, porosity and/or pore size in the flowthrough direction through the filter medium which differ from one another.