This Day in History: February 25, 1890
While this day in history does not mark the first "Molotov cocktail" per se, it does mark the birth of its namesake. On February 25, 1890, Vlacheslav Mikhaylovich Skryabin, foreign minister for the Soviet Union
who took the revolutionary name Molotov, was born in Kurkaka, Russia. Though he held many notable posts in the Soviet government, he is also
remembered for another reason. During WWI, Molotov advocated the
use of throwing bottles at the enemy...bottles filled with flammable liquid and stuffed with a
lit rag. Thus, the famous "Molotov cocktail" was born.
 |
A Finnish soldier
with a Molotov cocktail
in the 1939-40 Winter War. |
The Molotov cocktail, aka the petrol bomb, poor man's grenade, fire bomb, was first used in the Spanish Civil War before they ever became known as "Molotov cocktails". It has been the weapon of choice for many protests around the world.
They are frequently used by amateur protesters and non-professionally equipped fighters in urban guerrilla warfare. They are primarily intended to set targets ablaze rather than instantly destroy them.
As incendiary devices, Molotov cocktails are illegal to manufacture or
possess in many regions. In the United States, Molotov cocktails are
considered "destructive devices" under the National Firearms Act and regulated by the ATF.
If you are really interested in a flaming cocktail, stick to this one...BUT even it can be dangerous so leave its concoction to an experienced bartender!
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