109. General

a. Employment. The German Army developed antilifting devices (par. 110 through 114) to activate mines and thus prevent, or impede, their removal (par. 3 and 5). These antilift-ing devices operate either by pressure release, pull, or a combination of both of these methods. They may also be used as booby traps. Tellermine may be activated as in figu-re 132. Figure 132 illustrates the normal method of activating a Tellermine by using a fuze tied with a trip wire.

Figure 132. Two Tellermines installed with three 75-mm shells.

b. Hand Neutralizing. Hand neutralizing of any mine activating with an antlifting device is dangerous, tedious, and time consuming and should be done only when absolutely neces-sary. Removal as prescribed in paragraph 10b is recommended, but if hand neutralization is necessary, proced as follows:

Figure 133. Tellermine with normal activating fuzes.

(1)

Very carefully remove the dirt from the top and sides of the mine, avoid any trip wires that may be present.

(2)

Cut all slack trip wires.

(3)

Identify and neutralize any activating fuzes that may be found.

(4)

From a distance of approximately 6 inches from the side of the mine, and at a level just slightly below the bottom of the mine start digging toward the mine.

(5)

If contact is made with an object under the mine, carefully clear away sufficent dirt to identify the object. Do not remove any dirt from underneath the object; if it is an anti-lifting device it will not function as long as the mine is exerting pressure on the top of the device.

(6)

If the object is identified as an antilifting device, neutralize it according to the spe-cific neutralization procedure for the device.

(7)

If unknown or nonstandard fuzes are encountered, stop the hand removal. Pull the mine from the hole with a 50-yard length of rope.

(8)

After all of the fuzes and/or antilifting devices have been located and neutralized, remove the mine from the ground.