A device for compensating secondary moments of inertia in five-cylinder in-line combustion engines is provided. With in-line combustion engines having an uneven number of cylinders secondary moments of inertia occur and must be eliminated. This problem is solved by providing compensating masses of the Lanchester type separate from one another and supported in respective bearing housings that are connected to the crank case. The individual compensating masses are driven via the third and the eight crank web of the crank shaft since these are free of compensating masses of the first order. The first and second compensating masses, viewed in the direction of the star-like crank throw arrangement, are displaced in the same direction by the same amount so that the secondary forces due to inertia do not generate an additional torque about the crank shaft. The device may be advantageously incorporated into existing combustion engines.