WW2 Brandflasche Bottle

[Kilroy was Here]

Here's a Brandflasche bottle "grenade" I just received. Also a picture the box it came from. The box is not mine, I am just showing it. Bottle is in Nice shape, no damage. It still has the stopper with a hole drilled in it.

Anybody have good and hopefully close-up pics of one of these bottles with the fuzes or ignitors? maybe a good pic of what the paper tape looked like?

I would "maybe" like to make repros of the ignitors or fuzes that used to be attached to the bottle. I can use small drop of hot glue to hold any fuzes and paper tape onto the bottle, without damaging the bottle in any way.

I have seen the ignitor shown on Lex's site, but it's not too detailed, but it also says a M24 stick grenade fuse was used. If they did, would they have the same string and pull bead they used a M24 stick grenade? One or two fuzes were used? It seems one fuze would be enough.

I might also just leave the bottle as it is, I'm not sure yet.

 

[gothica7]

Nice items, what did they contain, a liquid petrol like substance? What were they used against, tanks?
Sorry about my ignorance.

Andy

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Nice items, what did they contain, a liquid petrol like substance? What were they used against, tanks?
Sorry about my ignorance.

Andy

Hi Andy, yes, I think a petrol type mixture with a thickening agent like tar mixed with it to make it thicker and stick and burn longer.
Yes, they were used against tanks. Fire is not good. Fire is a very effective weapon for tanks.

The Soviets used millions of "Molotov Cocktails" to great effect. The Russians also had factory made bottles like these Brandflasche, and there were two different mixtures used by Russians, No1 and No2 mixtures.

I heard the Germans did not use these Brandflasche "Molotov cocktails" as often as the Soviets for some reason. They should have, there cheap to make and effective.

 

[gothica7]

Thanks bud,

i thought they were used for something like that. Nice find, i would keep them as they are.
Only to be used by brave men though as man against tank isnt zakly good odds!!

Thanks

Andy

 

[Anders]

Fantastic find is it yours?

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Thanks bud,

i thought they were used for something like that. Nice find, i would keep them as they are.
Only to be used by brave men though as man against tank isnt zakly good odds!!

Thanks

Andy

I only have the one bottle Andy, the case of them and label are the pics from the seller I got the bottle from.

Your right, it's not good odds against a tank. The Russians had big balls. Their fighting tactics were a bit different, so that is why they used a lot these type bottles.

I guess the Germans usually had many other anti-tank weapons to choose from that could be used at a safer distance, So maybe that's why they did not use these bottles too often.

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Fantastic find is it yours?

Hi Anders, thanks. Just the one bottle is mine.

The seller said the box with the label "was found nearby to the town of "Halbe" . where in 1945 there have been the heaviest battles of the battle of Berlin"

 

[Big Dave]

Arrived in the post this week ,a nice Brandflasch advertised as British Homeguard issue ,so i thought i would picture it with a real Homeguard /LDV , Molotov Cocktail container namely a Lemonade bottle made by Idris ,London .A simple weapon used by very brave men

 

[sudelmuk]

Dave & Steve, well done with this purchase.
A really simple item but rare as well ... and it still smells :tinysmile_twink_t:

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Arrived in the post this week ,a nice Brandflasch advertised as British Homeguard issue ,so i thought i would picture it with a real Homeguard /LDV , Molotov Cocktail container namely a Lemonade bottle made by Idris ,London .A simple weapon used by very brave men

Very Nice Big Dave, welcome to the Brandflasche club! :bigsmile:
How much did you have to give for yours if you don't mind telling?

Does yours still have the cork in it?

Whats all over the lemonade bottle, is it a design of some type, or a bunch of bubbles in the glass, I cannot see it good???

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Dave & Steve, well done with this purchase.
A really simple item but rare as well ... and it still smells :tinysmile_twink_t:

Your right Peter, It really does have a nice fuel mixture smell to it...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh nice......I love the smell of napalm in the morning......

 

[Tmine35]

Finland used at least 3 different types of these Molotov-Coctail bottles in WW2.
First model was fluted like the German one but was abandoned soon. The reason was that the match compound burned too fast in the groove.

Second model was an ordinary 0,5 litres liquer bottle having 2 matches taped on side.

Last model was a long neck bottle to give better grip for throwing. It was ignited by an acid capsule placed inside.

 

[Kilroy was Here]

Hi Reino, very interesting thanks for info. Do you happen to have any photos of the three types.

What kind of liquid mixtures did they use, similar to what the Russians used?

I know the Russians Molotov cocktails used either "KS" liquid, or the "Fuel mixture No.1" The KS bottles were self igniting with contact to air, and the bottles with the fuel mixture No.1, there was a chemical reactive ampule or capsule that you had to put inside the bottle before you were to throw it.

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

The British equivalent was the No 76 SIP (Self-Igniting Phosphorous) Grenade, with a red cap for hand use and a green cap (denoting a stronger bottle) for use with the Northover Projector (about 75 - 150 yards range). Filled white phosphorous, phosphoric sulphide, water, benzene, rubber and air.

 

[APFSDST]

And here is the Hungarian "Molotov cocktail" 36aM Lnggrnt:
http://militiahungarorum.extra.hu/1920_f_k_ga_l_9.html

 

[Big Dave]

Hi Steve a couple of clearer pictures [ i hope] the bottle is covered in dimples ,fruit ,flowers etc ,a nice flat for a label .Made for Idris ,London for lemonade ? ,1920s/30s
The Brandflasche was advertised by a well known British Dealer as "British Homeguard Petrol Bomb Bottle",as iam interested in Homeguard equipment and didnt recognise it ,i did a search here and found your post ,looked it up on Lexs site.
Mine as the cork pushed into the bottle and smells of petrol/ oil, i also have a Abwehrflammenwerfer 42 [static flamethrower] which also smells strongly of the petrol/oil mix .Now for the price ......38 iam told by a BOCN member these usually go for 70-80
Regards Dave

 

[Tmine35]

Hi Reino, very interesting thanks for info. Do you happen to have any photos of the three types.

What kind of liquid mixtures did they use, similar to what the Russians used?

No, I don't have any photos myself but I try to find them again from other forums and send here.

In the beginning they used gasoline, then gasoline + soap to make it sticky and in the last stage bitumen tar + acid capsule.

 

[Grenademan2005]

Oops, I have been offered one of these bottles and I said, "NO thanks" :banghead: Now seems they are quite rare to find.

 

[Madbomber31]

Found a few over the years :tinysmile_hmm_t: but al like this

 

[Grenademan2005]

A pitty...