Second World War Gun Unearthed in German River
A Historic Find Near the Polish Border
Poinews.com – During routine maintenance on a waterway close to the Polish frontier, a Soviet-era Second World War weapon was discovered in the Neisse River, near Forst in Lower Lusatia. The 76 mm infantry gun, model M1943, was identified as having been employed by the Red Army. Though heavily corroded, the firearm remained remarkably intact, according to Enrico Schnick, an ordnance disposal expert with the KMBD.
“The mud and sand of the Neisse acted as a natural preservative,” Schnick remarked to RBB. “This kind of find is rare in our region.”
Forst, now home to approximately 17,000 residents, endured significant damage during intense combat in April 1945 between the German Wehrmacht and Soviet forces. The town’s current population contrasts sharply with its wartime devastation, which left much of its infrastructure in ruins. Niederlausitz Aktuell shared footage of the recovery operation, capturing the moment the weapon was retrieved from the riverbed.
Historical records indicate that over 5,000 M1943 guns were manufactured in the Soviet Union, primarily during the war. However, this particular piece will not be displayed in a museum. Schnick confirmed it has been sent to a dismantling facility in Kummersdorf, where it will be safely disposed of.
Incidents involving unexploded Second World War ordnance are frequent across Europe. In 2025, Paris faced disruptions as rail lines were halted during a bomb defusal. Last year, an unexploded device in Cologne forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate their homes, highlighting the ongoing risks of wartime relics.
