Did German flamethrowers explode or not?

[Thomas W]

This has been a heated topic of debate on lots of forums: Did German flamethrowers explode when hit by bullets or shrapnel?

During the flamethrower attack at Hooge on July 30, 1915, at least two different British writers said that a German flamethrower operator exploded into a fireball when his weapon was struck and punctured. However, the death book of the Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiment lists no names for Hooge.

Order T.17, signed by General Fritz von Below in the autumn of 1916, states unequivocally that flamethrowers do not explode when hit by projectiles.

Oberleutnant Charles Theune, commander of the 10th Company of the Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiment, wrote that if a flamethrower were punctured by bullets or shrapnel a cushion of air inside the oil chamber would allow the contents to flow out harmlessly from the holes.

Propellant pressure for portable flamethrowers was 328 psi (23 atmospheres), which brought the oil pressure to 265 psi (18 atmospheres). The oil was a mixture of coal-tar residue, light and heavy hydrocarbons, coal-tar oil, and carbon disulphide, with a specific gravity of 1.

Here's a photo of a Wex M.1917 captured by the Americans at Menil-la-Tour, France, on March 6, 1918. The weapon was in operation when the Americans threw hand grenades at the four flamethrower squads. Note the large tear in lower right-hand quadrant of the ring-shaped oil tank.

The American after-action report stated only that the German flamethrower squads dropped all four of the weapons, all of which were riddled with bullets and covered with blood. No flamethrower exploded.

Edited July 12, 2009 by Thomas W

[Thomas W]

Here is a dead flamethrower operator at Fismette, killed by machine-gun fire. The flamethrower was punctured but did not explode.

[Thomas W]

In 1932 the former commander of the Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiment, Bernhard Reddemann, described a flamethrower attack as follows:

"A few flamethrower pioneers fall as well. The circular apparatus, which the individuals carry on their backs, is perforated by bullets. The black flame oil runs from it onto the pavement beside the red blood."

No explosion.

And, just for fun, here's a photo of Austrian troops at the Battle of Ortigara, June 25, 1917. The weapon behind the trench mortar is the kleine 22l M. 15 Flammenwerfer. Note the gaping hole in the oil tank near the bottom. It could be that the flamethrower was hit when empty, but it could also be that the weapon was struck by a high-caliber projectile or shrapnel ball while it was full.

Edited July 12, 2009 by Thomas W

[Bear]

Spark?

Flamethrowers explosions are Like car crashes. Sometimes they catch fire & sometimes they don't.

[Thomas W]

Spark? Flamethrowers explosions are Like car crashes. Sometimes they catch fire & sometimes they don't.

Interesting that you would say that. I have a postcard of a flamethrower squad, sent by a German soldier from an unidentified unit. He writes:

"Dear parents and sister! I send you a card with a dangerous killing machine. It is a flamethrower. There is loud smoke and fire that come out from the front. If there is a spark you are lost beyond rescue. Everything else is fine. Goodbye. Best wishes from your son Karl."

Imagine being a parent of a soldier and getting that in your mail, especially if you had no idea what a flamethrower was...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

there is an account on Hill 304 or Dead man hill where there is a German and French account of the same action. Both mention a German flamethrower operator going up in flames.

Best

Chris