Granat Wz. ET 40

During the Second World War, while Poland was occupied by the Germans a well-organized resistance movement developed, popularly known as the "Polish Home Army".  From about 1940 on, the Polish Home Army operated clandestine manufacturing facilities and produced its own grenades as well as other arms.

 The first was the Wz ET 40, developed from a prototype impact grenade, Wz ET 38 designed by Edwarda Tymoszak (hence the ET in the designation).  The grenade was more popularly known as the "filipinka".  The first type body is made of "ebonite" (a form of bakelite) in a cylindrical shape.  The second type body is stamped from sheet steel with a cap and the igniter fitting into the cap.  The igniter consists of a cone shaped body threaded on the bottom end.  There is a hemispherical top.  Both the firing pin and percussion caps are contained in weighted holders.  A creep spring separates the firing pin and percussion cap.  A safety pin also fits between the firing pin and percussion cap and is attached to the safety lever.  A spring between the igniter body and safety lever is designed to help it fly off when thrown.  A split pin and ring hold the safety lever onto the body.  The grenade was normally filled with Cheddite that the Polish were also manufacturing but was also filled with plastic explosives obtained from the British.

 When the pin is removed and the grenade thrown, the spring under the safety lever is free to reassert itself.  It aids the lever in flying off.  As the lever flies off it withdraws the attached safety pin from between the firing pin and percussion cap.  At this point the only thing holding the grenade safe is the creep spring between the two.  When the grenade strikes the ground the firing pin is either driven into the percussion cap or the percussion cap is driven onto the firing pin depending on how the grenade lands.

 The grenade initially was not marked, but when the Germans invaded Russia, the Polish began putting Cyrillic markings on the bodies to further disguise the origins of the grenades.  The hope being that if the grenades were captured the Germans would think that the Russians had supplied them rather than finding the secret production facilities.

 Granat Wz. R 42

1n 1942 a simpler design of grenade began to be produced by the Polish Home Army.  The grenade was commonly known as the "Sidolowka". 

The body of the grenade was a tin normally used for "Sidol" a popular metal cleaner.  This also helped to disguise the grenade.  The body was normally filled with cheddite but other explosives may have been used.  A P-42 friction igniter screws into the top of the body.

The design of the fuze, with consideration given to the fact it would have to be made in clandestine facilities, was accomplished by Jozef Michalowski and Wladislaw Pankowski.   The fuze body is made of a lead alloy and has a sheet metal screw top to provide a safety.  A pull knob was located below the screw cap that was attached to a cord that passed through the ignition mixture.  A cardboard disc covered with a friction compound was attached to the other end of the cord.  A delay fuze passed through the middle section of the fuze leading down to the copper cased detonator.  It should be noted that the entire fuze, including detonators were manufactured in clandestine facilities.