When Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February, its defence minister asked citizens to arm themselves with Molotov cocktail to greet the aggressor in capital Kyiv.
Molotov cocktail got its name during the World War-II. (Reuters)
Petrol bombs or bottle bombs are common in protests that turn violent anywhere on the planet. These bombs are glass flasks filled with gas, gasoline (petrol), tar or motor oil and set on fire as a protester throws it usually targeting a state police or a marching army in a conflict zone such as Ukraine right now. In Europe and Russia, these improvised bombs have another name Molotov cocktail after Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov.
The Molotov cocktail was first used some time in 1920s or 1930s. They became a common anti-tank weapon in mid-1930s during the Spanish Civil War. But the bomb got its name during the World War-II. And, the name was given by Finnish people, who hit the streets against the Soviet forces which had conquered the country.
ALSO READ | When war came home: The ugly face of urban warfare | Russia-Ukraine conflict
World War-II began in September 1939 a month after Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. In the winter that year, Soviet Union invaded Finland with heavy bombardment on the country.
At that time, Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov claimed that his country’s forces were not dropping cylinders containing incendiary bombs but “humanitarian aid” to help the Finnish people.
Hit by Soviet bombs on the ground, the Finnish people saw the funny side of a tragedy in Molotov’s message to his radio listeners. They dubbed his “humanitarian aid” packets as “Molotov picnic baskets” and said when the Soviet forces come, they will welcome the aggressor with “Molotov cocktail” the petrol or bottle bombs of rest of the world.
ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine War Updates: Ukrainian brewery goes from making beer to petrol bombs
When Soviet tanks arrived in Finland, they were actually greeted with about half a million Molotov cocktail units. Alko a government-owned beverage company with monopoly in Finland mass-produced Molotov cocktail. The firm added tar to gasoline to make the bomb stick to the target more strongly.
The hand-thrown weapons destroyed hundreds of the invading tanks but Finland perished at the Soviet’s hand. But Molotov cocktail survived.
When Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February, its defence minister asked citizens to arm themselves with Molotov cocktail to greet the aggressor in capital Kyiv.