14/12/2025
Original relic Wehrmacht Molotov cocktail or Brandmittel gegen Feind Panzer. Original German name in documents: “Brandflasche”. Of course, this 26 cm tall glass bottle is empty and has two special recesses in the side to attach the fuzes. You also clearly see the number “2” on the bottle. I’ve seen bottles with different numbers, from “2” to “6.” I don’t know what they mean. Does anyone have any information?
The following translated German document on infantry close-combat against Russian tanks on the Eastern Front was published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 23, April 22, 1943.
“III. Close-in Combat Weapons and Their Use:
Incendiary bottles are a combat weapon used against tanks, armored scout cars, and other cars. In street and house fighting, they can also be used against living targets. They are thrown against the front part of the tank for blinding purposes, over the engine for incendiary purposes. The contents of an incendiary bottle (not self-igniting) are 2/3 gasoline and 1/3 fuel oil. Ignition of the incendiary bottles takes place (when it has broken after hitting a hard surface) by the use of special safety matches. The incendiary bottles are packed in wooden boxes in damp sawdust. The boxes also contain adhesive tape for fastening the matches to the bottles. The safety matches are packed in batches of twenty with 3 scratch pads in containers of noninflammable material. Two safety matches are taped to the bottle. The heads of the safety matches can be pointed either toward the neck or to the bottom of the bottle. The matches are lighted immediately before throwing the incendiary bottle, by friction with any rough surface or the match box. See that both matches are burning properly.
The bottles can be thrown in two different ways; throwing by swinging the arm, holding the bottle at the neck (see picture 9), or throwing by pitching, like putting a shot, grasping the bottle at its heaviest point (see picture 10).
Either of the two ways is practicable. In general, the position of the thrower will determine the type of throw. In a prone or similar position he will not be able to swing his arm, and therefore will have to pitch it. Whenever possible it should be thrown like a stick hand gr***de, because the accuracy of aim is greater and the possible range will be increased.
The most vulnerable parts of a tank are: the engine (ventilation -- on tanks usually in the rear), the vision slits, and imperfectly closed hatches.
Should an incendiary bottle miss and remain intact, it is better to leave it until the matches have burned out, as the heightened pressure might cause an explosion. The bottles should be handled with care. They should not be bumped together or against hard objects."
