BACKGROUND: The development and production of German army ordnance was under the supervision of the HwaA, Heereswaffenamt, (Army Ordnance Office), which was a subsection of the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and was responsible for testing, evaluation and eventual issue of all ordnance. The HwaA would issue all ordnance to a units Quartiermeister, (Supply HQ unit/Quartermaster), which contained the units Administration, Medical, Veterinarian, and Transport officers and its main responsibility was the control of all supplies to the forward troops including all vehicle fuel, and lubricant requirements as well as animal feed and rations and ammunition and accessories. The German army utilized a wide variety of assorted anti-personnel and anti-vehicles mines as well as assorted demolition charges. The mines and demolition charges were generally handled by Pionier, (Combat Engineers), troops and each Division in the German army, and the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), had an organic Engineer battalion that consisted of personnel specially trained in destroying enemy obstacles, creating forward defensive positions, bridging and assault tactics. As a result the Engineers were issued with assorted, specialized, equipment designed to meet their needs as the spearhead troops tasked with destroying enemy obstacles and creating forward defensive positions for their own troops. Along with the Engineer’s assault packs, long handle shovels, picks and axes and explosive tool kits the Engineers were also equipped with a wide variety of explosive charges, mines and the appropriate detonators and igniters, including the assorted Teller Mines. The Teller, (Plate), mines gained their name after their flat, round, plate like appearance and were originally developed as the TMi-29 in 1929. The Teller mines were produced in at least four variants with the TMi-35 and the TMi-35 Stahl, (Steel), developed in 1935, the TMi-42 in 1942 and the TMi-43 Pilz, (Mushroom), in 1943. The Tmi-43 Pilz was the last in the series of Teller mines, with production beginning in March 1943, and was a somewhat simplified version of the earlier models. The Tmi-43 Pilz mine utilized roughly eleven pounds of TNT and could be activated by applying roughly 320kg, (700 Pounds), of pressure to an igniter that was inserted into the center of the mine. The Tmi-43 Pilz could generally penetrate armor up to about 24mm, (1"), thick. Of Note: As the spearhead troops, personnel serving with an Engineer unit, generally experienced higher casualties rates then standard units.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 13 3/4" tall, 9 1/2" wide, 14 1/2" thick, (34.9. cm x 24.1 cm x 36.8 cm), field-grey painted, stamped and tooled magnetic sheet metal construction carrying case, for two Teller mines, features a brazed, staggered, bar hinge to the reverse, two brazed on, folding friction closure clips to the obverse and a fair sized recessed oval with a brazed and riveted on carrying handle to the top edge. The case has two small vertical, two small horizontal and two overlapping, diagonal, evenly spaced, recessed, strength reinforcement ribs to each side. The exterior of the case retains about 85% of it’s age and usage darkened, field-grey paint with small spots of wear to the base metal with light to moderate surface spotting. The obverse edge of the case has unknown, white, stenciled numerals, "14/2/45", possibly indicating the date, (February 14^TH 1945), and dual, overlapping, faint, black and white stenciled script, that appears to be, "Heeres-Munition Gesamtgewicht. 22 kg.", (Army Munitions Total weight 48 1/2 pounds). The exterior top edge of the case has additional white stenciled script, "2 T.Mi. (Pilz) 43", ( 2 Teller Mine {Mushroom} 1943). The interior of the case retains about 95% of it’s field-grey paint with some minor surface spotting. The interior of the case retains all ten of it’s original, assorted sized, Teller mine securing frame racks. The carved and lathed, wooden securing frame racks are all secured by small brazed on sheet metal tabs and two of the frame racks have horse hair pads. The case is in overall quite good condition with a few small dings and dents. Seldom encountered "Mushroom" Teller Mine carrying/storage case which would be a nice addition to a display.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $268.00