Extreme low water levels in rivers like the Rhine are causing World War II-era munitions and bombs to emerge.
On a Wednesday night, a walker on the Rhine riverbank near Trebur, Germany, discovered a smoking phosphorus grenade. The grenade began smoking because the phosphorus reacted with oxygen when it came into contact with air due to the low water levels.
In Koblenz-Wallersheim, also on the Rhine, a Bazooka rocket was discovered. This led to the evacuation of twelve houses within a 100-meter radius. Residents of a nearby nursing home were not evacuated but were prohibited from leaving the building during the detonation. Rhine river shipping was temporarily suspended in the affected area.
Never move, touch, or pick up suspicious objects.
Alexander Majunke, head of the Hessen State Ordnance Disposal Service, warned that munitions are unpredictable due to decades of weather influence. He advised people to never move, touch, or pick up suspicious objects. Marco Ofenstein of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ordnance Disposal Service added that improper handling of the Bazooka could lead to a fatal detonation.
Evacuation radius around the Bazooka find in Koblenz-Wallersheim.
Sven Rasehorn, technical leader of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ordnance Disposal Service, stated that employees are working 24/7 due to the extreme situation this summer. He explained that most finds are neutralized and moved to bunkers rather than being detonated on site.
Warnings from Authorities
The Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior advised people to avoid suspicious objects, mark the location, and report findings to the police. A spokesperson for the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior noted that bombs and munitions were intentionally sunk after WWII and remain hidden under sediment in lakes and rivers.
Markus Pöhlmann, a historian at the Center for Military History and Social Sciences of the Bundeswehr in Potsdam, stated that in the final phase of WWII, many soldiers discarded weapons in rivers like the Rhine to get rid of them. He noted there are no specific numbers regarding how many weapons were disposed of in German inland waters. He also said the Allies decided to dispose of weapons by dumping them into rivers for ease and safety.
The Hessen Ordnance Disposal Service stated that an exact number of munitions disposed of in rivers cannot be provided. The Rhineland-Palatinate Ordnance Disposal Service assured that every reported find is investigated to eliminate dangers.
Sascha Hummrich and Marco Ofenstein of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ordnance Disposal Service worked to secure and prepare the Bazooka found in Koblenz-Wallersheim for underwater detonation.
