Attached are two reports that describe the use of booby traps by US infantry units during the battles in Northwest Europe during 1944 and 1945. The reports show that periodic use of booby traps was made by some units when they were stationed as a holding force and in static positions and that it was a successful tactic on a number of occasions.
The text obscured by the ‘Declassified’ stamp can be read by enlarging the attachment.
All of the reports were collected from the US Army publication ‘Battle Experiences’. The publication date of each report is listed in the attachment title.
Use Of Booby Traps In Northwest Europe - 1944
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Re: Use Of Booby Traps In Northwest Europe - 1944
I wonder how much of this (the unwariness of the German soldiers) was due to casualties earlier in the war resulting in troops being more poorly trained.
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Re: Use Of Booby Traps In Northwest Europe - 1944
"Frag in a can"
Take a Mk II pineapple and a c-ration or 10in1 can and some wire
Secure the empty can to a tree fence post, etc with some wire
Place the frag in the can so the safety spoon (lever) is inside the can
Attach wire to neck of grenade and run across trail gateway etc, and secure about ankle height
Pull Safety pin safety spoon held by can
Werner or Hiroshi walks down trail foot pulls wire, wire pulls frag out of can safety lever snaps Boom
Job Done
Even better when you can run the wire closer to enemy side so when tripped it pulls the frag towards the enemy as they walk
Take a Mk II pineapple and a c-ration or 10in1 can and some wire
Secure the empty can to a tree fence post, etc with some wire
Place the frag in the can so the safety spoon (lever) is inside the can
Attach wire to neck of grenade and run across trail gateway etc, and secure about ankle height
Pull Safety pin safety spoon held by can
Werner or Hiroshi walks down trail foot pulls wire, wire pulls frag out of can safety lever snaps Boom
Job Done
Even better when you can run the wire closer to enemy side so when tripped it pulls the frag towards the enemy as they walk
"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here".
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach