Molotov cocktail. The "weapon of the poor" was the ironic response of the Finns to the "bread baskets" falling from Soviet planes
On November 30, 1939, the Red Army invaded Finland. From the very first days the invaders realized, in a particularly painful way, that the ruthless Finns were determined to sell their ransom very expensively. To quell this unexpected resistance, the Soviet air force used incendiary bombs.
Molotov cocktail made in Finland. |
Soviet Foreign Minister V. Molotov, in an outburst of theatricality and hypocrisy, announced that the incendiary bombs dropped by Soviet planes were, in fact, food packages. The Finns called them "Molotov bread baskets" and decided to proceed with a similar "treat". A mixture of ethanol, tar and gasoline in a 750 ml bottle, accompanied by two large storm matches for the wick. They christened it a "Molotov cocktail" with a clear sense of irony.
Destroyed Soviet tank in the Russo-Finnish war. |
With this weapon the Soviet tanks faced, with impressive results. They lit the fuse and threw the bottles on a metal plate of the chariot, which was glowing from the constant use of the engine. This caused the chariot to ignite.
During World War II, Molotov ordered the production of such bottles in order for Soviet citizens to resist the German invasion. Children of the Consomol (Soviet Youth) climbed into the German chariots and threw the incendiary bottle through the lockers or the turret. Nikos Giannopoulos historical..