WW I US Propaganda Shell?

[Brian Keith]

This was found with a group of WW I trench art and shells. When acquired from the original owner in 1989, it was stuffed with German Language propaganda sheets titled, Mehr als eine Million Amerikaner an der Westfront, that translated to More than one million American at the west front. It is a message from the US President Wilson. If you can see inside, it looks like it may have been a primer/discharger of some type inside. The length is 226mm and the diameter is about 44mm. The cap is rusted to the end and I havent tried to remove the rust/corrosion enough to see what the end of the tube is like. Of course, he may have just put the sheets in it to store them, It may be a flair shell of some kind.
Any body know what this is?
Thanks in advance!
BKW

 

[dano1917]

Yes, US WW1 propaganda shell. There were literally dozens of propaganda messages "sent" to the Germans. If you go to www.greatwar.com
and click on German items then click on books, they have many different propaganda messages that were delivered to the Germans. They are not cheap but oh what a collectible.....Dano

 

[Brian Keith]

Thanks for the reply Dano,
How were these delivered/deployed?
BKW

 

[dano1917]

Two methods that I am familiar with was in a propaganda type bomb or shell and also dropped by the handfuls out of an aeroplane...Dano

 

[nicklebomb]

American propagandashell

What you have here is a french Viven Bessiere propagandagrenade.These where fired in the same way they fired the explosive VB grenade.Inside you have a small black powder charge that ejects the leaflets after a few seconds.The leaflets are dispersed in mid-air.

 

[Brian Keith]

Thanks for the explanation nicklebomb, I missed it earlier, just now looking back on a few old posts! Very interesting item!
Yours,
BKW

 

[Elwell48]

Brian,

Excellent response from nicklebomb. Please allow me to elabororate. The French and Germans were slinging propaganda leaflets at each other long before the US entered into the War in April, 1917. The methods of delivery available at the time were by air (airplane, Zeppelin, balloon- no leaflet bombs in WW1), specially designed 76mm artillery rounds (both French and German) and the French developed a leaflet grenade (one of the VB grenade variations) to use with the Lebel rifle. That is what you have. When the US entered the War a version of that launcher was made to be used with the M1903 Springfield and M1917 Enfield rifles. The leaflet you described was a French leaflet intended for the German soldiers that could have been fired by either French or American soldiers. An excellent acquisition. WW1 leaflets are not common.

regards,
Doug

 

[Brian Keith]

Doug, Thanks much for the additional information, If interested, I can post a photo of the one of the leaflets, but thay are very brittle and not very good condition. I suspect the man who brought this home, picked it up off one of the battlefields in 1919. He was not in Eurpoe till after the war was over.
BKW

 

[Elwell48]

Brian,

Thank you for your offer but please don't do anything you think might damage the leaflet. I have acquired two of the VB leaflet rifle-grenades, with one still loaded with original leaflets. The second was purchased from an estate sale but the seller had no idea of its purpose. There were some leaflets with it that start just as yours does. I believe from the dates in the leaflet, it was from later than July 1918. What is the length of your grenade? I have two different lengths (6 11/16" & 9"). I believe the length difference was due to the different size in tracts (leaflets) that were to be delivered. I have not seen anything mentioned of French/British/US use of a leaflet grenade after WW1. The concept of the leaflet rifle-grenade was used extensively by the Germans in WW2. The Russians also used a leaflet rifle-grenade. I have heard reference to a U.S. leaflet rifle-grenade being used in the Pacific Theater by the OSS but no general use by the Army. The OSS item I am still researching. I imagine for several years after the War the VB leaflet grenades were found intact but the metal walls are thin and would soon rust away. As you can tell, my interest is in the delivery of propaganda leaflets. If you have other questions, don't hestitate to ask.

regards,
Doug