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| There
was a roughly 100 mines used during the World War Two in the
European Theater of Operations alone. The most advanced and
deadly of these mines were of German origin. Here are a few
different mines used by the Nazi Germany in the defense of
it occupied territories. |
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GERMAN
ANTI-TANK TOPFMINE A
This entirely nonmetallic mine is 13 in. in diameter, 5
in. high and has a total weight of 20 Ibs. including 12.5
Ibs. of explosive. It is black in color and consists of
a booster plug assembly, igniter and body made of paper,
sawdust and tar.
The
mine operates under a pressure of about 330 Ibs. which shears
the pressure plate along its groove, crushes the igniter
and fires the charge. This mine cannot be detected by electrical
mine detectors.
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GERMAN
"S" MINE 35
This Anti-Personnel mine is the most widely known and
most deadly of all. It is about 6 in. high and 4 in. in
diameter, usually fitted with the 3-pronged "S"
Mine igniter 35. The mine is buried in the ground with
Just the prongs of the igniter above ground.
When stepped on, the igniter sets off a booster charge
which pops the mine, out of its metal case about four
feet in the air where it explodes, scattering 350 steel
balls in all directions, deadly up to at least 100 yards.
It can be fitted with the ZZ 42 or ZZ 35 igniter with
a trip wire, or can take all 3 types at the same time,
using a 3-way adapter. It can also be laid with electrical
igniters, as many as 18, planted in the ground around
the mine.
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Booby
traps were already common as far back as World War One,
and weapons technology had advanced far enough to make it
very difficult to detect.
The
kind of details included in the leaflet on the right here
warn front line GIs about common booby traps used in a variety
of different manners.
Cautions
had to be taken as the Allies advanced into Nazi occupied
territory where German troops had time to set up trip wires
and explosives.
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| Although
the primary role of the was to set up communication lines
for the European Theater of Operations, their secondary function
was to disarm landmines and other booby traps . |
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Training
was given in England on the 11 March 1944. The train gave
my father a certificate of Proficiency qualified to perform
the duties of
Bomb reconnaissance officer and instructor.
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My
Father grinning over an unearthed German antitank mine.
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GERMAN
L. P. Z. MINE (LIGHT PANZERMINE)
This Antitank mine measures about 11 inches in diameter,
2.25 inches high, weighs 9 pounds with 5 pounds of TUT and
is painted dark gray. There is a centrally-located safety
screw, covered by a metal cap fastened to the cover by two
bayonet lugs. There are five push type igniters bolted inside
the nine, located by the five large nuts in the cover. The
bottom, charge and cover are held together by three bolts
located by the three small nuts on the cover. Each igniter
ia connected to the central detonator well by a brass flash
tube.
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PRESSURE-RELEASE
DEVICE (ENTLASTUNGZUNDER 44)
This
device consists of a thin shelled, round steel body, 5 in.
in diameter and 1.73 in. high, housing a simple clockwork
mechanism and 1/2 lb. charge. It is designed to be laid
under mines but could also be used as a very effective antipersonnel
line for booby-trapping houses.
On
the top of the device is a small, round pressure plate,
centrally located, connected by a spring to a hinged arm
holding the spring-loaded striker back. A winding post sticks
up above the top on one aide of the device.
Once
this device is armed under an object it cannot be disarmed
or neutralized.
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Additional
illustrations for supplied to engineers
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