The term 'Molotov Cocktail' was coined by Finnish soldiers during the Winter War. It was a sarcastic tribute to Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, who claimed in radio broadcasts that the Soviet planes dropping bombs on Finland were actually dropping 'food baskets' to hungry Finns. The Finns began calling the bombs 'Molotov bread baskets' and responded with the 'cocktail'—a bottle of flammable liquid—to go with the 'food.' These improvised incendiary devices were highly effective against Soviet tanks when thrown into their air intakes. The name stuck and has since become the universal term for simple, homemade gasoline bombs used in conflicts worldwide.