Molotov cocktail

A Molotov cocktail (among several other names – see § Etymology) is a <a href="/facts/Hand-thrown/0NkJC98u">hand-thrown</a> <a href="/facts/Incendiary_weapon/Evu6eJWY">incendiary weapon</a> consisting of a <a href="/facts/Frangible/TTosYXt0">frangible</a> <a href="/facts/Container/yDfwMWvW">container</a> filled with <a href="/facts/Flammable/1QexTQ4T">flammable</a> substances and equipped with a <a href="/facts/Fuse_(explosives)/BLv0GeAN">fuse</a> (typically a <a href="/facts/Glass_bottle/M9BkWetH">glass bottle</a> filled with <a href="/facts/Flammable_liquid/D6txQYNY">flammable liquids</a> sealed with a <a href="/facts/Cloth/PJrVeM5S">cloth</a> <a href="/facts/Capillary_action/aa60yQ32">wick</a>). 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.
Due to their relative ease of production, Molotov cocktails are typically <a href="/facts/Improvised_weapon/BS5besIm">improvised weapons</a>. Their improvised usage spans <a href="/facts/Criminal/BfoRzbL3">criminals</a>, <a href="/facts/Gangsters/NUyBz9LE">gangsters</a>, <a href="/facts/Riot/x3wtz4CM">rioters</a>, <a href="/facts/Football_hooligan/RnII5WuX">football hooligans</a>, <a href="/facts/Urban_guerrilla/P6fpMelg">urban guerrillas</a>, <a href="/facts/Terrorist/DHJGPJ6P">terrorists</a>, <a href="/facts/Irregular_soldier/8goYhQkn">irregular soldiers</a>, <a href="/facts/Freedom_fighter/peRRrz7y">freedom fighters</a>, and even <a href="/facts/Regular_army/zwIazuvu">regular soldiers</a>; 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 <a href="/facts/British_anti-invasion_preparations_of_the_Second_World_War/EJ5FEEeF">British Home Guard during World War II</a> and the <a href="/facts/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine/TTeQCgSl">Ukrainian volunteer units</a> during the <a href="/facts/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine/TTeQCgSl">2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>. During <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>, Molotov cocktails were even <a href="/facts/Factory/GPIW0snN">factory</a> produced in several countries, such as <a href="/facts/Finland/G5Ak6T91">Finland</a>, <a href="/facts/Nazi_Germany/8kRbqRpo">Nazi Germany</a>, the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a>, <a href="/facts/Sweden/u3qC7lyj">Sweden</a>, and the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>; some featuring specially designed <a href="/facts/Frangible/TTosYXt0">frangible</a> <a href="/facts/Container/yDfwMWvW">containers</a> and fuses (such as the <a href="/facts/US/P0sCdLe5">US</a> <a href="/facts/Frangible_Grenade_M1/l8gXPoMI">Frangible Grenade M1</a> for example).

Molotov cocktail open-in-new

Molotov cocktail