S-mine

S-mine 35
An American paratrooper demonstrates the process of removing a live S-mine. On the left is a Mark I trench knife.
Type	bounding anti-personnel mine
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	1935–1945
Used by	Germany, Axis Powers, Finland, Viet Cong
Wars	World War II, Winter War, Continuation War, Vietnam War
Production history
Produced	1935–1945
No. built	1,930,000+
Variants	SMi-35, SMi-44
Specifications
Mass	4.1 kg (9 lb 1 oz)
Height	127 mm (5 in)
Diameter	102 mm (4 in)
Filling	TNT
Filling weight	182 g (6.4 oz)
Detonation mechanism	Various, including: S.Mi.Z 35 (pressure), Z.Z.35 (pull), Z.U.Z.Z. (pull and tension), E.S.Mi.Z (pressure and electric)

The German S-mine (Schrapnellmine, Springmine or Splittermine in German), known by enemy Allied Forces as the "Bouncing Betty" on the Western Front and "frog-mine" on the Eastern Front, is the best-known version of a class of mines known as bounding mines. When triggered, these mines are launched into the air and then detonated at about one metre (3 ft) from the ground. The explosion projects a lethal spray of shrapnel in all directions. The S-mine was an anti-personnel mine developed by Germany in the 1930s and used extensively by German forces during World War II. It was designed to be used in open areas against unshielded infantry. Two versions were produced, designated by the year of their first production: the SMi-35 and SMi-44. There are only minor differences between the two models.^[1]

The S-mine entered production in 1935 and served as a key part of the defensive strategy of the Wehrmacht. Until production ceased in 1945, Germany produced over 1.93 million S-mines.^[2] These mines inflicted heavy casualties and slowed, or even repelled, drives into German-held territory throughout the war. The design was lethal, successful, and often imitated.