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Title:6TH AIRBORNE DIVISION'S MINE SCHOOL [Allocated Title]
Film Number:A70 110-3
Other titles:
Summary: 6th Airborne sappers are given a refresher course by instructors who familiarise them with new types of German landmines and projectiles at a divisional mine school in the Orne bridge-head.
Description: Trainees are shown an S-mine, notorious as a particularly deadly anti-personnel weapon, and are made familiar with its three-pronged pressure igniter. A lance-sergeant instructor demonstrates the workings of a Mauser Kar 98K rifle fitted with a 'Schiessbecker' anti-tank grenade thrower. Sappers are lectured by a lieutenant on German booby traps and are taught how to hunt for mines with a metal prodder. A lance-corporal defuses a Riegel 43 mine after checking it for booby traps. The lieutenant demonstrates in front of his class the method of firing 'Panzerfaust' anti-tank projectiles, choosing a stone wall some thirty yards away as his target. The camera dwells briefly on the damage made by the 'Panzerfaust' rockets on the wall before turning to a wooden cross marked 'Spr. died T.N.T.', a cautionary reminder to all the trainees. The Pegasus emblem of 6th Airborne Division stands at the entrance to the Mine School.
Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor)
Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company)
Smales, Edgar Hiram1920-08-071984-09-19 (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Royal Engineers (regiment/service)
British Army, Div, Airborne, 6 (regiment/service)
British Army, Corps 1 (regiment/service)
Keywords: weapons, German - mine: S-mine (object name)
weapons, German - grenade: Scheissbecker grenade launcher (object name)
weapons, German - mine: Riegelmine 43 (object name)
weapons, German - projector [AT]: Panzerfaust (object name)
weapons, German - mine: Teller mine (object name)
training, Allied military - weapons (object name)
signs, military and civilian (object name)
equipment, British military - damage control: mine detector (object name)
operations, British military - mines: clearance (object name)
Normandy, France (geography)
Notes: Note: For additional material on standard German infantry weapons of the Normandy campaign, refer to A70 110-7, 8 and 9 for footage showing such equipment held for training purposes at 59th Division's battle-school. Refer also to material showing the airborne division in training in the UK, preparing for D-Day in sealed camps and in action in the Orne bridge-head after June 6th 1944.
Remarks: Best seen with items of footage listed above. This material is note-worthy for its coverage of the 'Panzerfaust' rocket projectile in action - albeit here in a demonstration role.
