Molotov Cocktails, Whats the deal?

[Griefbringer]

The fragility of the bottles was surely a disadvantage. On a defensive position this would be less of an issue, you could stash the bottles relatively safely somewhere in the depths of your foxhole/trench, to be taken out if enemy tanks try to break into your positions.

But on more mobile operations their transportation would certainly pose its own problems. I have seen some Finnish pictures from Winter War with some soldiers having a couple of Molotov cocktails stashed under their belt. This did not look very comfortable (especially if running or bending), and any sort of diving for cover would put the bottles on the risk zone - never mind the simpler risk of the smooth surfaced bottle just slipping loose and falling to the ground.

As for jumping on and off transport vehicles, this was not a problem for vast majority of WWII infantrymen, who got to do most of their movement on foot, at least when anywhere close to the front line. Mechanised or motorised formations were a minority in many armies.

As for the bullets and shrapnel, I would be more worried about what they would do to my body than to any bottle I was carrying around.

However, I am reminded of a certain story I read in a book about Stalingrad. A Soviet infantryman prepares to throw a lighted Molotov at a German tank that has advanced close. However, just before he manages to throw it a bullet shatters the bottle, the contents of which catch fire and set the poor infantryman alight. Then the now burning infantryman runs to the tank, climbs on the engine deck, and smashes another Molotov that he had on the engine deck.

Griefbringer