Stielhandgranate: The Iconic WWII German Stick Grenade... 

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My father trained on the German WW2 stick grenade (after WW2 when they remained in use for a while) and he said you could throw them a lot further and more accurately. I think the were easier to throw from prone as well.

My cousin jump on a grenade to save three of his men . In the Philippines . He received the Medal of Honor . I have the last letter he wrote to my grandfather saying how he did not think he was coming home . His name was Harry Harr

I’m going to add a couple of comments, the stick grenade was primarily a “blast” grenade because they were used by assaulting troops, the blast injured and disorientated the enemy but with much less risk of the assaulting troops being hit by shrapnel from their own grenades. I’ve read that British and American grenades were described as “assault” weapons while the German grenades which lacked scored and grooved heads were “defensive” though I doubt this was the case. The German’s did have their own egg shaped assault grenade called a “Eihandgranate 39” and “Nipolit” grenades which are fascinating as they were made from old gun propellant and when produced could be milled and cut to shape. The whole grenade head became the weapon and fragmentation sleeves could be fitted over the top. This was developed towards the end of 1944 so it’s doubtful if many reached the troops - check out Ian V Hogg’s book “The encyclopaedia of Infantry Weapons WW2” - if you can find a second hand copy buy it, it’s superb.

I think my dad told me these stick grenades were called “ potato mashers “. He said they were very effective if used properly. He found out the hard way as he still carried schrapnel in his body the doctors couldn’t remove for the rest of his life

Some errors here. The bundled grenades were developed in WW1. Bangalore torpedoes were not primarily used against fortifications but barbed wire. There other issues. Happy to help. Thanks!

The images tell the history of the time. Thank you. From Japan

When I was in the Army i learned how to use the round gernade very well by changing the spin i put on it.

My father brought a stick grenade, a luger, and an enamel swastika badge back as souvenirs. He hid them under a loose floorboard at 49 Lansdown road Letonstone, London and forgot them! 49 is now a block of flats!!!

The way they were designed is actually superior throwing wise to round grenades

Picric acid reacts with the metal of the grenade shell and forms a HIGHLY UNSTABLE compound that can detonate with the slightest touch.

Would think the stick handle an impediment to their accurate throwing into open tank hatches, viewing slots, or gun portals on strongpoints, unlike tossing of the baseball sized 'pineapple'. But then again, what do I know?

Little problem with your video: the "stick grenade" was not the most used/produced grenade in WW2 by Germany. The Wehrmacht's main grenade was the Model 39 "Eihandgrenate", or "egg hand grenade". The M39 fuse was also used on the improved (not cheapened out) M43 with removable stick. The M24 design was mediocre at best, faulty at worst... and that's why nobody uses "stick grenades" anymore.

Not a gamechanger in the slightest. For one, far more Eierhandgranate 39 (Egg hand grenade) were produced during WWII than the Stielhandgranaten. The stick grenade only has the benefit of being uite distinctive in appearance, which is why people associate it with the German armies in both World Wars. Its distinctive appearance also meant that it is recognisable in photos and footage of German soldiers from WWII, and it has become as much a symbol of the German military during WWII as the Stahlhelm, spiffy Feldgrau uniforms, and the Iron Cross. The stick grenade itself was a WWI innovation that was conceived during a strange time when grenades were making a comeback on the battlefield after an absence of nearly two centuries. Everyone was trying all sorts of weird and funky designs for hand grenades that didn't require the operator to physically light a burning fuze like the grenades of the 17th century through the Napoleonic Wars era, which was around the point that grenades sort of disappeared. During WWI, people tried everything from ball-shaped grenades which exploded on impact to even discus-shaped grenades. The British even had their own stick grenade before they developed the much superior Mills bomb. The Germans developed the stick grenade, found it worked well enough for their purposes in WWI, and stuck with it into WWII for a few reasons: 1. They had the machinery, tooling, and know-how to make them. 2. The Treaty of Versailles restrictions on Germany would have impeded development and production of newer grenade designs in the interwar years. 3. The stick grenade was familiar to veterans of WWI, which would simplify training newer soldiers to use it effectively. 4. The stick grenade worked well enough for the Germans given their tactics and doctrines. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the Stielhandgranate were truly a "game changer," then you would have seen other people, i.e. the Allies copying the design during and after WWII, the way that the StG-44 and V-2 missile were copied to some degree and their modern descendants remain in use to this day. By contrast, nobody uses stick grenades any more, other than leftover stocks from WWII which found their way into far-flung conflict zones around the world due to the Soviets' tendency to hand out weapons, including captured WWII stock to just about any left-wing groups willing to do violence in the name of international socialism or whatnot.

Pineapple shaped grenades are not common place anymore amongst soldiers. I believe the design was alleged that it would fragment better and give a better spread pattern (lethal and wounding) when grenade exploded. There are other ways and deeper understanding of explosives and control/focus of the blast force used. And they were ridiculous heavy little eggs, horrible to control/aim accurately. And half the distance thrown of newer styles/shapes of grenades. Compared to German stick grenades they would outdistance pineapple grenades by well more than double the distance .

Good job, well presented.

Thank you for this video ❤ I have always wondered what kind of shrapnel the wooden handle produced? I guess, with the concussion effects being the goal, it is not that important.

The potato masher is easier to throw than a grenade that fits into your hand. The accuracy is far better too. The main issue is the limited number one can carry on account of the handle.

The stick grenade one big problem is their large size. I believe a more modern version could correct this. If one used a simple telescoping handle then many could be carried just like round grenades.

If it wasn’t for the bull, I’d imagine they’d still be around as a design today

How much further can it be thrown compared to a stickless grenade? Why isn’t it used anymore?

I am terrified of the standard US gernade ! I really believe that if you don't hit the dirt after throwing you'll get fragged.

Another idea could be a little miniature morter grenade inside a small tube. Each soldier could carry a small tube and base plate and some double use grenades that could either be thrown or propelled out of their miniature mortar

How did that work out for Der Fritz?

round or can shaped grenade can be rolled this one has to be thrown probably this one has become obsolete with the invention of grenade launcher, but the traditional round or can shaped/ cylindrical hand grenade still have their value for indoor usage. I wonder why don't they make spiked grenade that can stick to soft surface I imagine if a grenade can stick to soldiers clothes or backpack or their vehicle it would be very effective.

Did use the infamous HG43 until the late nineties in Switzerland. It was a monster: 300g TNT against the 170g of its German counterpart.

I don't know why we don't have them. You can throw them farther. But at times our round ones are better. Depends.

Very intresting, xs for sharing😊

I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

it was all concussion, almost no shrapnel

Stick grenade = Potatomasher.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="456">7:36</a> Kaisers son no? Bro Looks demented

I’ve Always Questioned how it was that Germany had during the Nineteen Thirties amassed Arms & Manufacturing of said weapons post Treaty stipulation’s.

+ you could use them to mash boiled potatoes.

The Krauts had the coolest helmets and weaponry.

Use of a fake rolling distortion effect on screen does nothing for the narrative.

What a mistake! Trench warfare was not originally from the Russo, Japanese war, or even that Sino, Japanese war, it originated in the American Civil War! I can’t believe somebody would make that big of a mistake, unless they just really don’t know history.

British Empire and Americans used egg or round grenades because they could chuck em like a cricket ball or baseball. I believe the Germans would have found a round grenade to awkward to get an accurate placement on target. The added length helped them not look like middle school girls when they gave the grenade a toss. The stick grenade took up allot of space to hanging off the soldier. The Japanese soldiers used the round Type 97 grenade and they traditionally play a mean game of baseball.

Like rifle grenades. Great gear worked great but not widely used

Less effective than the pineapple...

Potato mashers, for a small amount of time anyway.

Yeah, so much so Germany lost both world wars.

Clearly not a game changer. They lost the game.

Well it didn't... Stick. So clearly not an amazing grenade design

FIRST

Always heard them called a potato masher in English. And also I was in the Marines and threw American hand grenades of course it was smooth and round heavy as hell so heavy in fact you had to lob it and it didn't go very far so you'd like laying down you roll over you'd have your arm all the way out and you just lob it roll your body in over and lob it Aunt standing up or crouching you'd have to throw it like a shot putt cuz it was so heavy. I can imagine that you put a handle on that and would be a lot fucking easier.