The wooden handle behind the nickname
The two grenadiers are preparing stick grenades, one of the most recognizable pieces of German infantry equipment. The elongated handle gives the weapon a very different profile from the compact British and American grenades seen elsewhere in the collection.
The nickname potato masher comes from that shape. Beneath the familiar outline was a device intended for close infantry fighting, carried alongside the men's other arms rather than replacing them. The set catches the preparation together, giving the pair a shared action instead of making each man an isolated throwing pose.
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Grenadiers in Action
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