Firefighters arrived at the scene and determined that a 15-kilogram Soviet shrapnel bomb had been found in a safe condition – the soldiers had already transported the dangerous device to the central collection point of the Hungarian Defense Forces for later destruction. It is interesting that this was an explosive device that the Soviets converted from an originally German 10.5 cm artillery shell into an aerial bomb by installing their own ignition device. The device did not explode when it hit the water: such a case could have happened countless times during the operations carried out at the end of 1944 and the beginning of 1945 in the area of Lake Velence.
In connection with the incident, the firefighters emphasized again on their social media pages what to do in such cases. If someone has already lifted the suspected device, carefully lower it back into the mud to its original position. If possible, try to mark the area with a stick, buoy, child’s toy, or any suitable object. If marking is not possible due to the water depth, then you have to find the way to the nearest shore, and count your steps as you move towards the shore. Upon reaching the shore, the police must be notified immediately!
Photo: MH 1st Fire Brigade and Stream Guard Regiment
