Children find hand grenades from the Second World War in Eberswalde!

Children find hand grenades from the Second World War in Eberswalde!

A completely normal day at the after-school care center in Eberswalde was recently turned upside down by an explosive discovery by young students. On Thursday, June 13, 2025, children found an old hand grenade stuck deep in the ground on a gravel lot. This grenade dates back to World War II and was, surprisingly, functional. Simply playing football and without touching the dangerous object, the children informed a responsible person. Such reactions demonstrate a clever and adult way of dealing with unusual situations.

The ammunition recovery service was immediately alerted and was then tasked with eliminating the danger. Given the unpredictable nature of explosives, a 50 meter exclusion perimeter was established. Nine residents had to temporarily leave their homes while around a hundred children were brought to safety. These precautions were understandable because the region, steeped in history, has its absurdities and risks arising from the past.

root of danger

Such finds in Eberswalde are not entirely surprising. The city has an eventful history that is closely linked to the Second World War. Eberswalde was, among other things, the location of military units such as the 3rd Rifle Brigade. In 1945 the city was part of the German Eastern Front and was taken by Soviet troops on April 24th without much resistance. As in many other cities, this led to destruction by the SS, who ensured that nothing remained intact.

After the war, bullet holes in house facades were visible until the 1990s, a silent witness to the violent clashes. The legacy of this period often remains buried in the ground in the form of ammunition and other war relics. Eberswalde is not only a geographical but also a historical site that has many stories to tell both the civilian population and the military history.

Danger successfully averted

Fortunately, the grenade was successfully detonated in a controlled manner by the specialists from the ammunition recovery service and the situation was quickly defused. It was not the first time that the residents of Eberswalde were confronted with such finds, but in this incident the children showed the right instincts and acted in an exemplary manner.

The events surrounding the grenade not only show the dangers that lurk in the soil of the former war zones, but also the good hands of the children who reacted correctly in a critical situation. Over the years, such discoveries remain a part of the memory and history of Eberswalde, a place that, through its proximity to history, not only reminds us of the horrors of war, but also of the resilience of the people.

It remains crucial for the city of Eberswalde to raise awareness of this heritage and continue to rely on security measures to learn from the past. Historical knowledge is an invaluable treasure that current generations should value and that will continue to be relevant for times to come.