Stray passerby on a skyscraper path unexpectedly encounters a pair of unexploded war devices
Hanging out in Hiesfeld Forest – Unexpected Encounter with World War II Bombs
Took a leisurely walk in Hiesfeld Forest, close to the buzzing Waldspielplatz, and stumbled upon something unfamiliar on Tuesday – two grenades from World War II!
On the 17th of June, during an afternoon stroll, a passerby crossed paths with these war relics hidden in the depths of the forest. Based on expert appraisals from the fire department, these two World War II bombs were in a deteriorated state, necessitating immediate detonation. The detonation procedure was executed around 6:45 PM, a few hours post-discovery, to minimize disturbance. Citizens were asked to vacate the area at 5:40 PM to ensure safety. The region's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, under the Düsseldorf Regional Government, carried out the controlled explosion. Fortunately, few residents were affected, as the unexploded ordnance was placed in the heart of the forest within a nature reserve.
Worth a Read: Uncovering World War II Bombs – The Story of NRW Soil
In response to this discovery, paths within a 200-meter radius were blocked off for approximately 90 minutes. This measure also extended to the Franzosenstraße playground entrance. The perimeter was closed until 6:40 PM, allowing the explosive ordnance experts sufficient time to carry out their tasks. They managed to complete their mission by 6:49 PM, declaring the area safe. Consequently, the forest paths reopened immediately. However, even experts find it intriguing how these grenades lay camouflaged in the forest floor for decades before being unearthed all of a sudden.
Now, it's important to note that North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) uncovers around 1,500 to 2,000 unexploded World War II bombs each year[1][3]. Experts posit that about 5% to 20% of the total bombs dropped during the war failed to initially detonate, with many still buried in the soil posing ongoing risks[1][2]. In 2024 alone, 1,606 bombs were discovered and neutralized in NRW[1], suggesting a considerable stock of unexploded WWII ordnance buried beneath the region's soil. Although it's hard to pinpoint an exact number, evidence indicates thousands of unexploded WWII bombs may still be present, with hundreds to a couple of thousand being found and safely disposed of annually[1][3].
Stay safe and always keep an eye out during forest adventures!
Political discussions about the high number of unearthed unexploded World War II bombs in general news often arise, as North Rhine-Westphalia uncovers approximately 1,500 to 2,000 each year. These hidden war-and-conflicts relics, alongside accidents like the recent discoveries in Hiesfeld Forest, remind us of the persistent danger they pose to the public.
