GERMAN TRIP-WIRE ALARM

Reports recently received from credible sources, describe a German tripwire alarm which gives warning of movement of patrols or individuals in
areas where the Germans have erected wire defenses.
a. General
Although complete details concerning the equipment are not available, it
appears (see accompanying sketch) that the device consists of a box (1)
with a neck at the top into which the alarm cartridge (2) fits. Through the
bottom passes a striker, with a T-shaped head (3) by which it may be pulled
down against a spring for cocking.

A spring-equipped, right-angle lever (4), pivotted at the top (5) is forked

on the horizontal part which passes beneath the box and holds the striker
pin in the cocked position. To the center of this lever is fastened a clamp
(6) whose jaws grip the trip wire. This wire may be a strand of the
existing wire defenses, a special trip wire, or one of the wires used in
the construction of an obstacle.
The alarm cartridge (2) is of signal cartridge type, 83-mm (3 1/4 inches)
long and 27-mm (1 1/16 inch) diameter. It weighs 2 1/2 ounces. The body is
painted black. Its recognition by feel is easy since its sealing disk (7)
extends over the outside, and the rim (8) of the base is half smooth and
half serrated.
b. Operation
A picket (9) is driven into the ground near the wire. Then the alarm device
is well-lubricated and slipped over the picket and fastened to it by clamps
(10). By positioning the retaining ring (11) the equipment is held at such
a height that the clamp (6) engages the wire. The wire is placed between
the jaws of the clamp and locked in such a position that it is not under
tension and does not move the lever. Slight pulling or pushing of the wire
should, however, be sufficient to operate the device.
The alarm is tested by pulling down the T-shaped head (3) until the cocking
stop engages with the fork of the lever (4). Then, if the wire is moved
slightly, the striker pin should rise.
The alarm is loaded by pulling down the retaining spring and side wall (12)
and sliding the alarm cartridge in from the front, over the striker pin.
The device is then cocked by pulling down the T-shaped head (3) until the
cocking stop engages with the fork of the lever (4), in the same manner
used in testing. Now, however, the trip-wire must not be touched.
c. Action
When the alarm cartridge is fired, a flame is ejected from the cartridge.
The flame will rise to a height of about six feet, it will burn for about
10 seconds and at night will illuminate an area with a radius of about
50 feet.

Flare cartridges
This web site doesn't claim to be a reference concerning types of cartridges use by
German flare guns during the Second World War.
Nevertheless, we will just illustrate that subject and show some examples on that topic
which justifies itself one or more complete 'bible' and books.
1. Different cartridges boxes
2. Kriegsmarine box
3. Wurfgranatpatrone 326

4. AlarmschussPatronen and Alarmschussgert

5. Today's shoots
6. Some few things for Kampfpistole

Here above, for illustration, some boxes for flare gun cartridges:
Different samples of cartridges boxes (most of them are for Heer purposes) of
different type and different size.
For a more detailed description of the content of each box, we would recommend you to
have a look on the following books described here or others we aren't aware of at the
moment.

Kriegsmarine box
Cartridge box for Kriegsmarine (made of zinc, it provides a better seal necessary for
marine environment).

A other box containing green star flare cartridges. You will notice the KM marking on the
bottom of the zinc box (an eagle under a M) and the foil seal on the cap protecting the
primer (typical of KM flare cartridges).

Wurfgranatpatrone 326 LP
Projectile designed to be launch by flare guns without need of a rifled barrel.
We have to point your attention to the extreme danger of such ordnances. Its
activation is very sensitive and without going into technical explanations, we
recommend you to contact the relevant departments (Civil Security Demining
Service) at the discovery of such objects. In any case, you must avoid to
remove or handle this kind of ordnances!!

Other sample of a Wurfgranatpatrone 326 LP

We have to point your attention to the extreme danger of such ordnances. Its
activation is very sensitive and without going into technical explanations, we
recommend you to contact the relevant departments (Civil Security Demining
Service) at the discovery of such objects. In any case, you must avoid to
remove or handle this kind of ordnances!!

Alarmschusspatronen et Alarmschussgert
Some cartridges called Alarmschusspatronen near their box.
This kind of cartridges should'nt be fired with a flare gun. They were (and must)
only used with traps.

These cartridges (fig 8, 2, 7) were used with the German trip-wire alarm system
called Alarmschussgert (the drawing here below is coming from the following web
site).

Here above some pictures (click on them to visualize them in their original format) of a
very rare Alarmschussgert in good condition (thanks again to its owner for sending me
these pictures).
General views of the system:

View of the firing pin and and where the Alarmschusspatrone cartridge was maintained:

View of the manufacturer code (Hasag 1939):

View of the clamp (which was holding barbed wire and also allow the trigger to be
activated when it was moving too much):

View of the firing pin:

Global views od the alarm system:

Some shoots today.

To avoid absolutly: shooting original WWII flare cartridges but, nevertheless, the results
are in the pictures below:
Single shots (green (left) and red (right) flares)

Double shoots (red flares shoot with a Luftwaffe flare gun (Model L))

Some samples of Kampfpistole cartridges:

The legend is the following:

1 Nebelpatrone Z with vent (smoke cartridge)

Box containing ten cartridges (on the picture, the cases are missing); You can see a red
"Z" on the two sides of the box to easely recognize it - Clic on the picture to see it on the
original format -.

2 Nebelpatrone Z without vent (smoke cartridge)

3 Deutpatrone Z

4 Nachrichtenpatrone Z with anodized body (message sending). The content of the

Bakelite head is based on a piece of paper and a pencil. After having written the
message and placed it in the bakelite head, the 'rocket' is launched and a smoke charge
helps to visualize the place where the message has been dropped.

5 Nachrichtenpatrone Z (message sending). Same as above.

6 K.P.Sprengpatrone Z, red stenciled marking at the cartridge.

7 K.P.Sprengpatrone Z, steel shell lacquered.

8 F.Leuchtpatrone Z, black plastic head.

9 F.Leuchtpatrone Z, white painted black plastic head.

10 K.P.Sprengpatrone Z with its cardboard container.

More detailled informations can be found on the following web site: LEXPEV site
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