Molotov cocktail
A Molotov cocktail (among several other names – see § Etymology) is a hand-thrown incendiary weapon consisting of a frangible container filled with flammable substances and equipped with a fuse (typically a glass bottle filled with flammable liquids sealed with a cloth wick). In use, the fuse attached to the container is lit and the weapon is thrown, shattering on impact. This ignites the flammable substances contained in the bottle and spreads flames as the fuel burns.
- Top left: Lit Molotov cocktail ready to be thrown.
- Top right: Use of Molotov cocktails during a riot.
- Lower left: Military throwing practice of Molotov cocktail.
- Lower right: Original Finnish Molotov cocktail with storm match attached.
Due to their relative ease of production, Molotov cocktails are typically improvised weapons. Their improvised usage spans criminals, rioters, football hooligans, urban guerrillas, terrorists, irregular soldiers, freedom fighters, and even regular soldiers; usage in the latter case is often due to a shortage of equivalent military-issued munitions. Despite the weapon's improvised nature and uncertain quality, many modern militaries exercise the use of Molotov cocktails.
However, Molotov cocktails are not always improvised in the field. It is not uncommon for them to be mass-produced to a certain standard as part of preparation for combat. Some examples of this being done are the anti-invasion preparations of the British Home Guard during World War II and the Ukrainian volunteer units during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. During World War II, Molotov cocktails were even factory produced in several countries, such as: Finland, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Sweden and the United States, some featuring specially designed frangible containers and fuses (such as the US Frangible Grenade M1 for example).