Hi all, I stumbled across this site recently ( don’t know how I managed to miss it for so long…) I have long been fascinated by the German armed forces of WWII.
I have a question that you may be able to help me with. Lately I have seen references to stick grenades as being either “defensive” or “offensive”. This is a new to me. Can someone explain the difference? Thanks.
Welcome aboard!
Not sure about the wwii stick grenades but Im pretty sure Its the same as modern grenades.
Modern defensive grenades,have more power because soldiers that use them are supossed to have cover (in their defensive positions)and thus they are more protected.
It works the opposite way for offensive grenades.
Offensive would be throwing it.
Defensive would be using it in perimeter defence i.e attaching a trip wire to it. Proberly the precursor to the Claymore.
shas
IIRC: offensive grenades have a blast radius of less than their expected throwing distance (so that they can be used in the open), and defensive grenades have a blast radius of greater than their expected throwing distance (so can only be used when cover is used).
Basically, defensive grenades make a bigger bang.
I have a question that you may be able to help me with. Lately I have seen references to stick grenades as being either “defensive” or “offensive”. This is a new to me. Can someone explain the difference? Thanks
Sometime the defensive “potato masher” was added a fragmentation metal jacket to improve his lethal radius.
the stick hand grenade was an offensive HE charge. It was not fragmental, so it was less effect against enemy infantry but more powerful in destroying obstacles.
This is exactly what ive heard. The potato masher was a concussion grenade as opposed to the american pineapple frag grenade. Can anyone confirm this? That is by other means than just looks. 
I saw an interview with a Waffen SS vet on the history channel and he said sometimes they used to tie ropes with washers and bolts on the grenade when using it against troops.
The German stick grenade relied purely on blast, with limited shrapnel from it’s construction of wooden stick, metal cap and the various working parts.
The Pineapple was a metal egg, the pineapple name comeing from the heavier than necesary metal casing, pre-notched to allow for lots of fragments.
The German stick grenade could be thrown further however.
The sleeve was brought in after the grenade, to make it more effective, by giving it more shrapnel.
Wow… I wanna buy one!
“Stick” grenades:
http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerhgr/stck/index.html
“Egg” grenade:
http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerhgr/m39/index.html
“Egg” smoke grenade:
http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerhgr/nb42/index.html
Handgranate 343 d (offensive and defensive):
http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/gerhgr/343/index.html
German Wurfkörper 361 LP: http://www.inert-ord.net/ger03a/wkorp/index.html
Thanks for all the responses. I found this on Wikipedia, which bears out what a few people have said here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splittering
It seems the basic grenade was indeed an offensive blast grenade, used for clearing bunkers & buildings etc.
The fitting of the fragment sleeve (Splitterring) turned it into a frag. grenade for use against personnel in the open.
There was even an “antitank” version of the Stieldhangranate 24, that was the “Geballte ladung” or reinforced charge.
It consist in a 7 normal charges in a flower shape, that was to create a blast enough to crack light armor at short distances.
In WW1 and WW2 the Germans would use the “Geballte ladung” not just against tanks, but against any built up position or bunker.