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[[Image:S-mine.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An [[United States of America|American]] [[paratrooper]] demonstrates removing a live S-mine]]
The [[Germany|German]] '''S-mine''', or '''Bouncing Betty''', wasis athe commonmost typewell-known version of a class of mines known as [[bounding mine]]s, which launch into the air to rain [[shrapnel]] onto their victims. The S-mine (''Schrapnellmine'', or shrapnel mine) was an antipersonnel [[landmine]] developed by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] in the [[1930s]] and used extensively by German forces during [[World War II]]. The S stands for ''Schrapnellmine'', meaning simply shrapnel mine. It was designed to be used in open areas and to attack unshielded infantry. There were twoTwo versions of the S-minewere produced, designated by the year of their first production, called: the SMi-35 and SMi-44. There are only minor differences between the two models.
The first [[Allies of World War II|Allied forces]] to encounter the S-mine were [[French army|French soldiers]] who were attempting minor probes into the coal-rich German [[Saar]] region from September 7th through 11th, [[1939]], during what is known as the [[Phony War]]. The S- minemines alone were almost wholly responsible for turnedturning back these French incursions almost single-handedly. The S-mine's performance in the Saar region affirmed its effectiveness in the eyes of the German leadership , and prompted the United States and other countries to makeattempt attempts atto copyingcopy the design. After thistheir experience, the French nicknamed the mine ''the silent soldier''. ▼The S-mine is the most famous version of a class of mines known as [[bounding mine]]s, which launch into the air to rain [[shrapnel]] onto their victims. Since the term was coined during the Second World War, United States soldiers have used the term Bouncing Betty describe these types of antipersonnel mines and similarly designed [[booby traps]].
Nazi Germany used the S-mine heavily during the defense of its occupied territories and the German homeland during the Allied invasions of [[European_Theatre_of_World_War_II|Europe]] and [[North_African_Campaign|North Africa]]. S-The mines were produced in very large numbers and planted liberally by defending German units. For example, the German Tenth Army deployed over 23,000 S-minesof them as part of their defense preparation during the [[Allied invasion of Italy|Allied invasion]] of [[Italy]] <!--in 1941?-->. Before the end of World War II, Nazi Germany had produced overmore than 1.93 million S-mines. S-mines were deployed on the beaches of these[[Normandy]] in preparation for the [[D-Day]] invasion, as part of a general program of heavy mining and fortification. The mines were subsequently used to defend German positions during the [[Battle of Normandy]] and in the defense of Northern France and the German border. S-mines were typically used in combination with antitank mines to resist the advances of both [[Armoured warfare|armor]] and [[infantry]]. ▼▲The first [[Allies of World War II|Allied forces]] to encounter the S-mine were [[French army|French soldiers]] attempting minor probes into the coal-rich German [[Saar]] region from September 7th through 11th, [[1939]], during the [[Phony War]]. The S-mine turned back these French incursions almost single-handedly. The S-mine's performance in the Saar region affirmed its effectiveness in the eyes of the German leadership and prompted the United States and other countries to make attempts at copying the design. After this experience, the French nicknamed the mine ''the silent soldier''.
It was during the Allied actions in Europe that the S-mine gained its cynical nickname ''Bouncing Betty'' from American infantrymen. The S-mine had a great psychological effect on Allied forces, duebecause toof its likelihoodtendency to seriously maim an infantrymaninfantrymen's limbs or [[genitalia]] rather than kill.killing Ltthem. Col. Sloan, inIn his book ''Mine Warfare on Land'', Lt. Col. Sloan described the S-mine as "probably the most feared device encountered by Allied troops in the war." ▼▲Nazi Germany used the S-mine heavily during the defense of its occupied territories and the German homeland during the Allied invasions of [[European_Theatre_of_World_War_II|Europe]] and [[North_African_Campaign|North Africa]]. S-mines were produced in very large numbers and planted liberally by defending German units. For example, the German Tenth Army deployed over 23,000 S-mines as part of their defense preparation during the [[Allied invasion of Italy|Allied invasion]] of [[Italy]]. Before the end of World War II, Nazi Germany produced over 1.93 million of these mines.
S-mines were deployed on the beaches of [[Normandy]] in preparation for the [[D-Day]] invasion, as part of a general program of heavy mining and fortification. It was further employed to defend German positions during the [[Battle of Normandy]], and in the defense of Northern France and the German border. The S-mine was often used in combination with antitank mines to form a barrier to both [[Armoured warfare|armor]] and [[infantry]].
▲It was during the Allied actions in Europe that the S-mine gained its cynical nickname ''Bouncing Betty'' from American infantrymen. The S-mine had a great psychological effect on Allied forces, due to its likelihood to seriously maim an infantryman's limbs or [[genitalia]] rather than kill. Lt. Col. Sloan, in his book ''Mine Warfare on Land'', described the S-mine as "probably the most feared device encountered by Allied troops in the war."
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