Heilbronn: Children make dangerous discovery from World War II!

Heilbronn: Children make dangerous discovery from World War II!

While playing in Heilbronn, children discovered a tank explosive grenade that probably dates back to the Second World War. The location is near the disused Lerchenberg tunnel in Gemmingstal. The shell was heavily rusted and weathered, suggesting it had come to the surface over years. After the discovery, the children immediately informed the police, who then alerted the explosive ordnance disposal service. He confirmed that it was ammunition.

The grenade was placed in a special container in the evening and transported away for later destruction. Depending on the nature of the ammunition, this destruction takes place either by explosion or combustion. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in this incident.

Reuse of World War II ammunition

Finds of World War ammunition are not uncommon in the Heilbronn area. Especially at large construction sites, discoveries often occur that put the local police and the explosive ordnance disposal service on alert. It was only in April that a farmer in Bad Friedrichshall became aware of an anti-tank weapon that could no longer be transported, which was then blown up by the explosive ordnance disposal service.

Regarding the anti-tank explosive grenade, the ammunition found was probably that Panzergranate 39. This was a standard German grenade in World War II, manufactured in various calibers and often used against armored vehicles in direct fire combat. Externally it resembles the PzGr. 40 and was fired from various weapon systems, such as combat vehicle cannons (KwK) or anti-tank cannons (PaK).

The Panzergranate 39 is known for its armor-piercing active body, which is equipped with a cap made of softer material to absorb the impact shock. A ballistic hood also optimizes aerodynamics. It uses kinetic energy to penetrate armor and contains a small amount of explosive, so an explosion only occurs after penetration. Various versions of the grenade were produced for different cannons, so that the dimensions and penetration values ​​could vary depending on the caliber.

Police security warning

The police are using this incident to once again draw attention to the dangers of suspicious objects. She urgently warns against touching such objects and recommends contacting the police immediately if in doubt. The security measures and the alertness of the relevant authorities show how important it is to act carefully in such situations.