Volkshandgranate 45

William · #1 (**permalink**) December 15th, 2003, 05:25 PM

Anyone out there have any info/specs/photos/drawings of this monster?

Wm.T.

KnightMove · #2 (**permalink**) December 16th, 2003, 01:09 AM

Later in the war due to shortages Eihandgranaten were manufactured of concrete (with scrap metal pieces in the cast) instead of metal. Because these concrete egg grenades had problems with the concrete becoming brittle, another solution was found: the Volkshandgranate 45 ("people's hand grenade"). It was basically a cardboard can with a diameter of 5cm and a height of 7cm filled with a mixture of 70g concrete, 75g gravel and 350g scrap metal pieces, with a core made of only 36g of explosive (due to shortages). The can was closed with a sheet metal lid with the same Abreisszünder rip-cord used on the Stielhandgranate. The company Preussag in Rudersdorf produced 784,200 beginning in January 1945.
http://www.geocities.com/Augusta/8172/panzerfaust9.htm

Here you find a small pic:
http://www.reproman.homestead.com/GERMANGRENADES.html

William · #3 (**permalink**) December 16th, 2003, 03:13 PM

Thanks Knightmove,
Is the second link you gave me still around? I found this fellow a few weeks ago, sent and email, and had it returned. Looking on his guestbook, most of the entries say the same thing.

I suppose I could write him a real letter and see if there is a response.

Anyway, thanks for the info. Exactly what I was looking for

Wm.T.

KnightMove · #4 (**permalink**) December 16th, 2003, 04:44 PM

Yes, the link is still there, so is the image.