Kiwi Medals

This is a German antipersonnel mine made almost entirely of glass. This was so that it would be harder to detect using a mine detector. Because it relies on the 220g blast charge it is intended to maim primarily by taking a leg or foot off an individual soldier.

This is a German cement mine that has metal fragments in it. Inside was a 100gram Bohrpatrone charge. Screwed in through the top was a ZZ42 zünder, although this one came with a druckzünder 35A.

This is an interesting piece. It’s called an “ice mine”. The original German theory for the use of these mines was that they should be suspended on 6-foot lengths of wire below the surface of ice-covered rivers. The mines were placed 16-feet apart and at intervals mines were set to be ignited by electrical detonation. The explosion of one mine would set up a sympathetic detonation which would explode those in the adjacent area. The mines were later used as A/P ground mines, employing the Fl.Es.Mi.Z igniter and adapted for use with other pressure type igniters.

Well what can I say that the title already didn’t? This is a M35 Antipersonnel mine with the compound three zunder setup on top. This was replaced by the M44 in 1944 that was simpler to manufacture. This is quite heavy and rather nasty inside as it contains hundreds of sharp medal rod clippings designed to tear the shit out of people.

Sappers from the British 51st Highland Division render a group of M35’s safe somewhere in the Western Desert.

This mine was a non-metallic anti-personal mine containing a 200 gram blast charge and was triggered by a ZZ42 detonator. My one is missing the wooden spacing blocks that held the charge block in place.