Propaganda-Gewehrgranate
The Propaganda-Gewehrgranate was a non-lethal rifle grenade designed to deliver propaganda leaflets that was developed by Germany and used by the Wehrmacht during World War II.
| Propaganda-Gewehrgranate | |
|---|---|
 A schematic of components. | |
| Type | Rifle grenade |
| Place of origin | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Wehrmacht |
| Wars | World War II[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 230 g (8 oz) |
| Length | 140 mm (5.7 in) |
| Maximum firing range | 460 m (500 yd)[1] |
| Warhead | Propaganda leaflets |
| Warhead weight | 200 g (7 oz) |
Detonation mechanism | Time fuze[1] |
Design
The Propaganda-Gewehrgranate was launched from a Gewehrgranatengerät or Schiessbecher ("shooting cup") on a standard service rifle by a blank cartridge and consisted of a cylindrical steel body with a rifled driving band, and a removable nose cap. The coiled leaflets were held loosely by two steel packing covers inside the projectile's case. On firing, the flash from the blank cartridge ignites a time fuze and after approximately 9 seconds the ejecting charge at the base of the grenade explodes, driving the ejecting platform and packing covers forward unseating the nose cap and scattering the leaflets. Maximum range was 460 m (500 yd).[1]
Photo Gallery
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Drawings of German Schiessbecher and grenades.
A surviving Propaganda-Gewehrgranate at the Museum of Coastal Defence at Hel, Poland.
References
- unknown (1 August 1945). Catalog Of Enemy Ordnance Material. www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/CatalogOfEnemyOrdnanceMateriel.pdf: Office of the chief of ordnance. p. 318.