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Grenade discovery in Starnberg: 60 people evacuated, danger averted!
Discovery of a US artillery shell in Starnberg triggers evacuation. Emergency services secure the danger zone after a WWII discovery.
Grenade discovery in Starnberg: 60 people evacuated, danger averted!
On Friday morning, July 11, 2025, earthworks on the historic Possenhofener Straße in Starnberg made an unexpected discovery: a mini excavator driver came across a US artillery shell from World War II while digging. The unexploded bomb, which was located in the middle of a resident's garden, caused a stir and a major response from rescue workers. As the South German newspaper Reportedly, the grenade detonator was there, but no longer armed, which gave the emergency services a certain all-clear.
A security area with a radius of 100 meters was quickly set up around the site. Almost 60 residents had to leave their four walls and were looked after by the Bavarian Red Cross. This led to traffic in the Starnberg city area being rerouted over a large area, which led to significant disruptions and long traffic jams, according to the statement South German newspaper.
A large-scale operation by rescue workers
A total of around 150 emergency services were on site, including 80 firefighters, 40 emergency services employees and 12 members of the technical relief organization. The explosive ordnance disposal service from Munich came around 3 p.m. to assess the situation. Fortunately, the danger was averted in time, allowing all affected citizens to return to their homes.
This incident sheds light on the dangers that unexploded bombs can pose. Similar incidents can also be seen in other parts of Germany. In Klotingen, as in a report by Soester Anzeiger mentioned, it was not until June 28, 2023 that a grenade with a caliber of 155 millimeters was discovered, which initially remained undetected due to being confused with a large stone. The finder, Thomas Fröleke, stopped the work and immediately informed the authorities so that no danger arose.
The lessons from the past
The discovery of grenades is a stark reminder that the shadows of World War II remain to this day. These incidents demonstrate the need to work with sensitivity and caution in areas containing potential explosive ordnance. The explosive ordnance disposal service does important work here to ensure the safety of citizens.
This time Starnberg got through it unscathed, but what happened in other cities is a wake-up call that, even in this day and age, one should always act with caution and the necessary attention, especially when carrying out earthworks. So stay alert and informed about the stories of the past that sometimes reveal themselves in our immediate surroundings.