Artifices having been used partly by the Luftwaffe and aiming to mark a ground, to communicate with a device at low altitude, etc ...
These had to be fired at a very flat angle so that the smoke dissipated as little as possible with the wind.
Their introduction into the army would date from 1940 but this without any certainty given the lack of documentation of time that has been identified.
Rauchspurpatrone BLAU
Smoke-like artifact consisting of a light-alloy case and a smooth-beaded base and a waxed cardboard cover with 4 blue squares arranged in a cross. The case is marked with 4 blue stripes of width 1cm while the base can be marked either 4 blue bands every 90 degrees, or a cross of the same color where only the center would remain original. On this type of projectile, the name of the cartridge, the year of production, and the manufacturer are affixed in black. The effect is 4 blue smoke trail about 60 meters.
