Until a certain time, Hitlerite Germany did not experience a shortage of certain resources, which allowed her to supply the army with the required products in a timely manner and in the required quantities. However, by the end of the war, the situation had changed dramatically, and German industry had to look for ways to deal with the shortage of materials. In particular, there was a shortage of metals and alloys, which affected various industries, including the production of hand grenades. To solve this problem, along with the existing products, a new weapon called the Glashandgranate went into the series.
In the fall of 1944, Nazi Germany, now forced to fight on two fronts, formed the Volkssturm militia. To arm them, a variety of weapons were required, including hand grenades. However, under existing conditions, the industry could not quickly fulfill the mass of orders and supply the necessary products to all structures of the army and militia. In addition, a new problem has emerged in the form of a growing shortage of certain materials. As a result, to arm the militias and, in certain circumstances, the army was offered to develop several special models that can be attributed to the conventional class of "ersatz".
One of the surviving Glashandgranate grenades
Volkssturm was asked to use grenades made with non-standard materials. A common feature of several such products was the absence of the usual metal case, which crushed into fragments during an explosion. In addition, it was proposed to further simplify the design of the grenade in comparison with mass production samples, as well as to use other explosives. Specific design problems were solved using the most unusual materials - concrete, paper and even glass.
One of the new developments in the German industry is a product called Glashandgranate - "Glass hand grenade". As follows from its designation, in this case it was decided to replace the scarce metal with less expensive glass. At the same time, the grenade had to use a fairly cheap and easy-to-manufacture fuse of the serial model.
The main element of the grenade was a body made of available glass. It was proposed to cast egg-shaped hulls that vaguely resemble units of other weapons of this class. In particular, there was a certain similarity with the Eihandgranate 38. However, technological limitations led to the appearance of noticeable differences. The main part of the body was made curved and had characteristic protrusions that form a mesh. According to some reports, grenades of different series could have both a protruding mesh and intersecting grooves of small depth. Other samples could generally get a smooth body.
On top of the rounded body there was a relatively large neck with a thickening along the edge. On the sides of this thickening, grooves were provided. It was proposed to install a tin round cover on the neck. The cover was secured in place with a pair of hooks. When putting on the cover, they passed through the grooves of the neck, after which it could be turned and fixed. In the center of the cover there was a threaded hole for the installation of the igniter of the existing model.
An explosive charge weighing about 120 g was placed inside the glass case. Depending on availability and supply, the Glashandgranate ersatz grenade could have a charge of one or another explosive. In particular, a cheap and easy-to-manufacture nipolite was used. However, the low price of this explosive was compensated for by the reduced power, and such grenades were noticeably inferior to other ones, equipped with TNT or ammonal.
According to known data, ready-made striking elements could be loaded into the housing together with the explosive. These were wire scraps, small metal balls, etc. During the detonation, they had to scatter in different directions, inflicting injuries on the enemy. The metal parts of the grenade - the cover and the fuse - could also break into pieces and increase the impact on the target.
From a certain point of view, the Glashandgranate grenade looks like a variant of the development of the Eihandgranate 39 product. This impression is reinforced by the fact that it was proposed to be used with serial B. Z. E. 39 and B. Z. 40. These devices were of a similar design and used the same principle of operation. The differences between the two fuses were in different design features and some parameters.
Both fuses had a tubular body with a grater and grating material inside. A spherical cap was fixed on top of the thread, connected with a float with a cord. A Sprengkapsel No. 8 detonator cap was placed in the body below. Some of the fuses were equipped with a transverse bar, which facilitated the extraction of the cord and prevented the fuse from falling out of the grenade. There were no safety equipment to prevent detonation before the throw.
Another product of this type. Yellow paint residues on the fuse cap indicate a 7.5 second delay
With a sharp extraction of the cord with a grater, the grating composition ignited and it started the combustion of the moderator. The B. Z. E.39 and B. Z.40 fuses were produced in different versions with different delay times - from 1 to 10 s. For obvious reasons, no fuses with a minimum delay time were used with grenades.
The body of the Glashandgranate grenade without a fuse, but taking into account the metal cover, had a height of less than 80 mm. The standard diameter is 58 mm. After installing the fuse, regardless of its type, the height of the grenade increased to 110-112 mm. At the same time, the installed fuse did not affect the transverse dimensions of the weapon in any way. The standard mass of a grenade at 120 g of explosive is 325 g.
It is known about the existence of several versions of the glass case, differing in the shape and size of the outer protrusions. In addition, there is information about the differences in equipment. Finally, ersatz grenades were equipped with several types of fuses. This means that the dimensions and weight of serial products could vary within certain limits and depended on the series. It also cannot be ruled out that such parameters could differ within the same batch.
According to various sources, the serial production of the new Glashandgranate grenades began at the very end of 1944 or at the beginning of 1945. Products were packed in wooden boxes lined with soft material such as straw. As with other weapons, the fuses were transported separately from the grenades. They were to be installed in the receptacles of the caps immediately prior to use. For ease of use, the spherical fuse caps were colored to indicate the delay time.
There is no exact information about the supply and combat use of "Glass Hand Grenades", but some assumptions can be made. Weapons of this kind, made of non-standard materials, were primarily supplied to the Volkssturm detachments, which, for obvious reasons, could not apply for full-fledged army models. At the same time, the transfer of such weapons to the Wehrmacht or the SS, which also needed large quantities of infantry weapons, was not ruled out, but could not always get something other than the notorious "ersatz".
The combat use of grenades should not have been difficult. The fighter had to unscrew the ball, pull it out along with the cord and then throw the grenade at the target. The mass and dimensions of the product made it possible to send it to a distance of up to 20-25 m, depending on the training of the fighter. The explosion occurred within a few seconds after pulling the cord.
The combat qualities and impact on the target of a glass-cased grenade can raise certain questions. The fact is that the glass body of an explosive device is capable of showing a variety of results, both increasing the effect on the target and without exerting a noticeable effect on it. Nevertheless, there is every reason to believe that the Glashandgranate grenade could pose the most serious danger to the enemy.
Obviously, the main and most stable damaging factors of such a grenade were the shock wave and ready-made fragments pre-loaded into the hull. A 120 gram charge could inflict fatal damage on people within a radius of several meters; the fragments retained their lethal effect over long distances. The effect of the broken glass case could be different, but it is likely that it threatened enemy personnel.
B. Z. E. fuses. 39. On the device on the right, the cap is unscrewed and the cord is partially pulled out
Large glass fragments could complement small metal striking elements and enhance the lethal effect of a grenade. Such fragments are extremely difficult to detect in a wound, which made it difficult for military doctors to work and led to long-term risks. Having crumbled into many small fragments, the case could form a cloud of glass dust and pose a threat to exposed areas of the body, eyes and breathing.
Fortunately for the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition, Glashandgranate-type grenades appeared quite late - not earlier than the very end of 1944. They may have been produced in large quantities, but the exact production volumes are unknown. The available amount of data and the number of surviving samples suggest that the command of the army structures and the militia preferred to order other versions of simplified weapons, such as grenades with a concrete body.
The operation of such weapons was to continue until the end of the fighting in Europe and the surrender of Hitlerite Germany. After the end of the war, the remaining available grenades made of non-standard materials were sent for disposal as unnecessary. The new armies of the FRG and the GDR were built using other weapons that did not differ in an ambiguous appearance and dubious characteristics.
Apparently, the responsible persons who carried out the disposal did an excellent job with their work. At the moment, only a few surviving Glashandgranate type grenades are known in one configuration or another. Thanks to these products, it was possible to establish that the housings could have both external protrusions and grooves on the surface. Also, with their help, some other features of the original German project were identified.
There is reason to believe that a number of "Glass Hand Grenades" may still remain on the battlefields of the past. A glass case closed with a metal cover is able to protect explosives from external influences. Thus, these ersatz grenades can still pose a danger to humans and should be dealt with accordingly. It is unlikely that anyone would want to test the fighting qualities of a glass case filled with explosives and metal fragments.
Faced with the most serious shortage of various materials, Hitlerite Germany was forced to develop special weapons designs, less expensive and demanding on raw materials. An interesting way out of this situation was the Glashandgranate hand grenade. However, one cannot fail to notice that she did not have the highest characteristics and did not differ in fighting qualities. And besides, she appeared too late and could no longer influence the course of the war. By the time it was created, the outcome of the Second World War was decided, and all the desperate steps of the German command only delayed the natural ending and no longer made much sense.
