Online Collection
German 25 mm signal pistol, 1918 (c)
This pistol was used to fire flares which contained magnesium, a substance that burns brightly. As the flare slowly fell to earth by parachute it illuminated no-man's land. Men caught out in the open by such flares would either freeze until the light of the flare died, or throw themselves instantly to the ground.
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1965-10-204-37
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Study Collection
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1965-10-204-37