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Building a bike path in Germany

Quote:

'In the best mellow spirit of modern Germany, the local authorities in Seelow wanted to build a bike path so the increasing number of tourists could expand their rides across the tranquil flat plain of the Oder River and into neighboring Poland.

'This being the site of the biggest World War II battle on German soil, a team was chosen to scour the proposed bike path route for abandoned ordnance. Soon they turned up not munitions, but a mass grave, with the remains of as many as 28 Soviet soldiers.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/w...iet-union.html

Oh great... so it is a HAUNTED bike path now...

I can't imagine doing any sort of construction work in Europe, and having to worry about old bombs at every shovel scoop.

But to keep it topical, glad to see someone realizes the community and tourism benefit in cycle infrastructure!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefnvk (Post 19729433)

In France thry are still clearing unexploded ordinance from the First World War. And every year or so, an unexploded bomb from WWII is found during construction , and whole towns have to be evacuated while it is being defused. A couple of years ago some young people on a beach, had made a fire out of driftwood that set off a shell under the sand, killing one of them.

It's not only a European issue. Here in Pittsburgh, new construction across from what was a Civil War arsenal uncovered 300 cannonballs, some still with black powder in them.

More than 300 cannonballs unearthed in Lawrenceville | TribLIVE

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefnvk (Post 19729433)

I can't imagine doing any sort of construction work in Europe, and having to worry about old bombs at every shovel scoop.

Construction companies fear finding historic artefacts much more, because the bomb squad works a lot faster than the archeologists. It's not that big a risk anyway, those bombs and grenades didn't go off as they were supposed to the first time, why would they go off now? People do get evecuated sometimes, but usually just as a precaution, with a warning well in advance and without them fearing for their homes very much.

And it's not everywhere, heavy fighting was usually limited to specific areas. There are parts of Belgium and Alsace where getting rid of shells is routine for farmers because of the enormous numbers of shells fired in WWI. And I found a handgrenade once as a kid when we were living near Arnhem (Market Garden, a bridge too far) and took it home. But it's not like the whole of Europe has been carpet bombed for the whole duration of two world wars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stadjer (Post 19731903)

I know, but using the generic "Europe" is much easier than listing everywhere I regularly hear about these stories :) And just because they didn't go off originally, doesn't mean they are not dangerous. Just because the fuse was damaged (or worse, simply not activated), does not negate the fact they are still packed with high explosives.

Interesting point about the archaeologists though.

It's a good point about geography. The static nature of WW1 means that there are many more shells still in place. WW2 was much more fluid in many places, so not as many explosive devices were left after the war. Still, things like tank rounds are still occasionally found.

Here in Korea there is a popular MTB area where there are fenced off sections with "Danger: Mines" signs hanging, remnants of the war over 60 years ago.

Is this an appropriate time to show a photo of the 1940 Tour de France? :rolleyes:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...erman-army.jpg