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of USM Inc. Those images and the text may be used by others ONLY AFTER completion
of a formal international licensing agreement and payment of a licensing fee!
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The very efficient German S-Mine (Schrapnellmine named for Henry Shrapnel, 19th century British Army Officer, who first put metal balls in explosive shells) was also referred to by American troops as the Bouncing Betty mine because when triggered, it first jumped up to about waist height, and then exploded, projecting its load of lethal 5 mm metal balls in all directions. Check out the wikipedia listing for S-Mine for more information.
This is an authentic 5-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 7-1/2 inch (14 x 16.5 x 19 cm) black dovetailed wooden box for a German Bouncing Betty mine, dated 23 December 1943 and clearly labeled for its military explosives content. In addition to its stenciling and labels, the box is stamped in the lower back corner of the left end as follows:
EAGLE AND SWASTIKA above the letters WaA 869 above SS above 1943.
EAGLE AND SWASTIKA above the letters WaA 869 above SS above 1943.
The black metal hardware and screws are original as is the still-supple expanding leather carrying strap, and as are the stamping, stenciling and labels. It is completely original to the end of 1943 period. This box was picked up in Germany during World War II by a US Army Air Force Officer who filled it with German insignia and other souvenirs, and we recently bought it that way at auction.
The white stenciling on the top says that the box contains explosive components for the 9S Mine model 1935. The dated explosives labels (with the red cross bar) on the right end and inside of the top explain the S-Mine contents in detail (mine, propellant, explosives, fuses, etc.). The photo on the right shows ghost images of an S-Mine body in the box and the compartment on the left side for the other parts of the mine. We have no mine for the box, nor any other parts. The dividers for the compartments inside of the box are missing, but the grooves in which they fit are there.
The white stenciling on the top says that the box contains explosive components for the 9S Mine model 1935. The dated explosives labels (with the red cross bar) on the right end and inside of the top explain the S-Mine contents in detail (mine, propellant, explosives, fuses, etc.). The photo on the right shows ghost images of an S-Mine body in the box and the compartment on the left side for the other parts of the mine. We have no mine for the box, nor any other parts. The dividers for the compartments inside of the box are missing, but the grooves in which they fit are there.
NAZI BOUNCING BETTY S-MINE WOODEN BOX
THE WOODEN SHIPPING
BOX FOR A NAZI BOUNCING
BETTY S-MINE 35 DATED
23 DECEMBER 1943
BOX FOR A NAZI BOUNCING
BETTY S-MINE 35 DATED
23 DECEMBER 1943
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