The Model 43 Stielhandgranate was introduced by the German Army mid-way through World War II to replace the earlier Model 24 (the archetypal stick grenade). This development was intended to simplify production and to enhance its versatility, evidenced by even more simplification between the early and late versions. The Model 43 used the same fuse assembly (the BZE 39) as the egg-shaped Model 39 Eierhandgranate, which was screwed into the top of the explosive charge.