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WWII German Land Mine -
This is a German item from the World War Two period. Also known as the S-Mine.

The German S-mine was a steel cylinder less than 5.1 inches tall without its sensor and only 3.9 inches in diameter. A steel rod protruding from the mine's top held the main fuse, where its trigger or sensor was attached. The SMi-35 had a central fuse, while the SMi-44 had an offset fuse. It weighed approximately 8.8 lb, with the weight depending on whether it was loaded with the lighter powdered or the heavier poured TNT.

This page provides information on how to identify German WWII items. It also provides data outlining the woth of the collectible over the years, including the present time.







The main charge of the mine used TNT as its explosive; the propelling charge was black powder. The standard pressure sensor used a percussion cap to ignite it.



This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German collectibles. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German collectible worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the collectibles is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German items in the collector's market is illustrated.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.

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The main fuse was designed to delay the firing of the propelling charge for approximately four seconds after the mine was triggered. The explosion of the propelling charge sent the mine upwards into the air and activated three short-delay pellets between the propellant charge and the three detonators. These short-delay pellets delayed the mine's detonation long enough for it to reach an appropriate height before exploding.

The standard pressure sensor was designed to activate if depressed by a weight of roughly 15 lb or greater. This ensured the mine was not detonated by wildlife or natural impact of blowing leaves, branches, or other normally occurring phenomena.





The S-mine was normally triggered by a three-pronged pressure fuse. It could also be modified to be triggered by a tripwire. A special tripwire adapter was provided by the German army. The steel tube that held the fuse was threaded to accept any standard German ignition or trigger, allowing the sensor to be removed and the mine to be deliberately triggered by a human operator. When triggered, the mine functioned in two stages.

1.First, the mine was fired 2 ft 10 inches to 4 ft 10 inches up into the air by a small propellant charge. 2.Second Approximately a half-second later, the main charge detonated at the optimum height to kill or severely injure anyone in the immediate area. 3.Third The main charge of the mine was surrounded by roughly 360 steel balls, short steel rods, or scrap metal pieces. These became metal shrapnel that sprayed horizontally from the mine at high velocity.


The time between triggering and ignition of the propelling charge varied between 3.9 and 4.5 seconds, depending on the age and condition of the mine. According to German documentation, the S-mine was lethal within 66 ft and could inflict casualties within 330 ft. American training manuals warned of casualties at up to 460 ft.





A common misconception prevailed that the S-mine would not detonate until its victim stepped off the trigger. This fallacy was propagated by incorrect United States propaganda during World War II. The mine would detonate whether the trigger was released or not. Standing still or attempting to run from the S-mine would be equally dangerous. The most effective way to survive the mine's detonation would not be to flee but to fall to the ground lying face down as quickly as possible, and even then, injuries were likely, barring exceptional circumstances.

S-mine dischargers, in the form of angled tubes attached via brackets to the hull, were also used for anti-infantry defense by Wehrmacht armored vehicles. Early versions of the Tiger I were equipped with five such devices.







Many German items are currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of the items. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of a german military collectible.



If you have an interest is seeing other collectibles of the Third Reich, you can do so by going to our WWII German Collectibles identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine), Air Force (Luftwaffe), political, civil service, homefront and many more areas.







PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for WWII German military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com. The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Value $240.00 $260.00 $300.00 $350.00 $400.00 $425.00 $450.00 $500.00 $525.00 $550.00 $600.00 $700.00
Availability Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare
Invest Grade B B A A A A A A A A A A


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


  MARKET ANALYSIS
Mar 1st, 2017
Germans items that were used at the front during WWII have become collectibles. The item featured here is very hard to find. In general the appreciation has been reasonable. The items is very interesting and It is expected that its value will continue to climb.


 
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