History Main / MolotovCocktail

** The Ukrainian National Guard tweeted out instructions on how to make Molotov cocktails during the 2022 Russian invasion.

* In the Korean film ''Film/TheHost'', one character has a whole bag of Molotov Cocktails, using one cocktail to light the next.

The Molotov cocktail is named for Vyacheslav Molotov, the UsefulNotes/{{Soviet|Russia Ukraine and so on}} foreign minister who is historically infamous for signing a clandestine non-aggression pact with UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1939; when UsefulNotes/{{Finland}} (which had been ceded to the Soviets under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) began to suffer Soviet bombing runs at the start of the Winter War, Molotov claimed they were not 'bombs', but food and supply drops, causing the Finnish soldiers to facetiously dub their hand-made petrol explosives 'Molotov cocktails', to go with the 'Molotov breadbaskets' the Soviets were dropping. (This also means if you see the term "Molotov cocktail" used in media set before about 1940, it's ArtisticLicenseHistory. This happens surprisingly often.)

* In the ''Literature/{{Underdogs}}'' novel ''Tooth and Nail'', Mark turns a whisky bottle into a Molotov cocktail, which he throws at a tank full of clones. The tank is surprisingly undamaged, but the clones all die, either by asphyxiation or burning.

* In the BBC mini-series of ''Series/TheWarOfTheWorlds'', Frederick makes up some with lamp oil, but he's only got two matches to light them. It makes no difference as while he scores a direct hit on a Martian, the flames have little immediate effect and he's killed. The Martian succumbs from its wounds, but only later.

** The Russians' secondary grenade weapons are these. They're pretty [[KillItWithFire pretty damn effective too.]]

* In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyWorldAtWar'', the Russians' secondary grenade weapons are these. They're pretty [[KillItWithFire pretty damn effective too.]]

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer Generals'', the GLA has the unit "Angry Mob," which is initially equipped with pistols and rocks, but can be upgraded to wield AK's and Molotovs. Effective against buildings.
** In ''Red Alert 3'', Russian Conscripts can switch between AK's and Molotovs to alternate between anti-infantry and anti-garrison warfare.

->''"Any time I had a problem, I threw a Molotov cocktail and, boom, I had a different problem."''

For a person who uses this and other handheld explosives or incendiaries as a WeaponOfChoice, see ThrowDownTheBomblet. Compare BizarreBeverageUsage for when they use the liquid ''in'' the bottle for ulterior motives.

For a person who uses this and other handheld explosives or incendiaries as a WeaponOfChoice, see ThrowDownTheBomblet.

* ''VideoGame/FreedomFighters'' has Molotovs that are often better than the grenades: they're a guaranteed kill and the enemy doesn't have a chance to run away.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance[=/=][[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2 A2]]'', the Juggler job can throw Molotov cocktails as an attack, which deals a small amount of fire damage and has a chance of driving the target [[StandardStatusAilments berserk]].

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

* In ''FanFic/MotherOfInvention'', Applejack uses a bottle of high-proof alcohol in this way to drive a monster off.

* Near the climax of ''Videogame/DiscoElysium'' if your character has both a bottle of incredibly strong alcohol and has kept his horrid tie that keeps talking to him, said tie will encourage him to stuff it into the bottle, which will come in handy in the upcoming "Tribunal".

* ''Videogame/GrimDawn:'' Called Blackwater Cocktails, they're available to Demolitionists at an early level. They have a very good line of upgrades, boosting them with extra potency, {{Hellfire}} and weakening enemies due to sheer dint of burning, adding up to each cocktail being a little pack of pure Hell that not only does heavy damage, but softens creatures a ''lot'' for even heavier ordnance.

* Appears in ''VideoGame/{{Postal}} 2'', where it can be sometimes found in the hands of [[AcceptableTargets Al Qaeda-like terrorists]].

* You can make them in VideoGame/{{Terraria}}, although you'll need to craft the other key components of it first (a torch for the light, silk for the rag that helps to bear the fire from the torch, brewed ale for the fuel, and glass for the containers). It is easily the strongest of the pre-Hardmode consumable weapons.

* Thrown by the red Holly Woods[[note]]As opposed to the orange ones, who carry knives[[/note]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFight''.

* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' uses Molotovs on many an occasion.

* ''Series/TheMusketeers'': In an episode, Athos and Aramis takes refuge from assassins that are after the queen in a monastery. The nuns living there brew strong spirits for a living, and during the assault they uses them in bottles as makeshift grenades (as well as [[BeeAfraid a beehive]]).

* These can be made in ''VideoGame/LISAThePainful'' at fuel generators if you have empty bottles on hand. Useful against Joy Mutants and large groups of enemies, as they do heavy damage to all enemies in a battle and inflict the Burning status.

* These can be made in ''VideoGame/LisaThePainful'' at fuel generators if you have empty bottles on hand. Useful against Joy Mutants and large groups of enemies, as they do heavy damage to all enemies in a battle and inflict the Burning status.

AKA petrol bomb or people's grenade, a simple ImprovisedWeapon for all your asymmetric warfare needs. Brilliant in its simplicity: a glass bottle full of gasoline (or [[BoozeFlamethrower very high-proof alcohol]], and even turpentine in some cases), and a burning rag on the bottleneck, thrown at the enemy. The bottle breaks on impact and spreads its flammable contents, the still-burning rag hits the liquid, and presto, your target's on fire.

While they originate from UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}, the Molotov cocktail is named for Vyacheslav Molotov, the UsefulNotes/{{Soviet|Russia Ukraine and so on}} foreign minister who is historically infamous for signing a clandestine non-aggression pact with UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1939; when UsefulNotes/{{Finland}} (which had been ceded to the Soviets under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) began to suffer Soviet bombing runs at the start of the Winter War, Molotov claimed they were not 'bombs', but food and supply drops, causing the Finnish soldiers to facetiously dub their hand-made petrol explosives 'Molotov cocktails', to go with the 'Molotov breadbaskets' the Soviets were dropping. (This also means if you see the term "Molotov cocktail" used in media set before about 1940, it's ArtisticLicenseHistory. This happens surprisingly often.)

While they originate from Spain, the Molotov cocktail is named for Vyacheslav Molotov, the UsefulNotes/{{Soviet|Russia Ukraine and so on}} foreign minister who is historically infamous for signing a clandestine non-aggression pact with UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1939; when UsefulNotes/{{Finland}} (which had been ceded to the Soviets under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) began to suffer Soviet bombing runs at the start of the Winter War, Molotov claimed they were not 'bombs', but food and supply drops, causing the Finnish soldiers to facetiously dub their hand-made petrol explosives 'Molotov cocktails', to go with the 'Molotov breadbaskets' the Soviets were dropping. (This also means if you see the term "Molotov cocktail" used in media set before about 1940, it's ArtisticLicenseHistory. This happens surprisingly often.)

The Molotov cocktail is named for Vyacheslav Molotov, the UsefulNotes/{{Soviet|Russia Ukraine and so on}} foreign minister who is historically infamous for signing a clandestine non-aggression pact with UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1939; when UsefulNotes/{{Finland}} (which had been ceded to the Soviets under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) began to suffer Soviet bombing runs at the start of the Winter War, Molotov claimed they were not 'bombs', but food and supply drops, causing the Finnish soldiers to facetiously dub their hand-made petrol explosives 'Molotov cocktails', to go with the 'Molotov breadbaskets' the Soviets were dropping. (This also means if you see the term "Molotov cocktail" used in media set before about 1940, it's ArtisticLicenseHistory. This happens surprisingly often.)

* First introduced to Europe during the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar of 1936-39, it also saw use in the '37-45 UsefulNotes/SecondSinoJapaneseWar. It was a weapon of desperation, used by poorly-equipped infantry against armoured cars and tanks (in urban combat, such as at Shanghai and Changsha).