Germany’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (KMBD) has successfully recovered a Soviet-made Second World War artillery piece from the Neisse river. The discovery occurred during waterway maintenance operations near the town of Forst in Lusatia, located approximately 20 kilometres from Cottbus and close to the Polish border.
The weapon was discovered during works on the waterway close to the border with Poland around 20 kilometres from Cottbus. The recovered item is a 76 mm infantry gun, model M1943, which was historically utilized by the Red Army. According to Enrico Schnick, an expert with the KMBD, the weapon remained in remarkably good condition despite being badly rusted. Schnick noted that the mud and sand of the Neisse river provided a protective environment for the artifact, adding that he could not recall a similar discovery in the region.
The town of Forst, situated in the Spree-Neisse district, has a population of about 17,000 today. It was the site of intense combat between the German Wehrmacht and the Red Army in April 1945, which resulted in the near-total destruction of the municipality. Documentation of the recovery operation was also shared by the local outlet, Niederlausitz Aktuell.
Data from the Berliner Morgenpost indicates that over 5,000 units of the M1943 model were manufactured in the Soviet Union during the conflict. Despite its historical significance, the weapon is not expected to be displayed in a museum. Schnick confirmed that the gun has been transported to the KMBD dismantling facility in Kummersdorf, where it is slated for proper disposal.
Finding remnants of Second World War weaponry remains a recurring event across Europe. Recent years have seen significant disruptions due to similar discoveries, including a 2025 incident in Paris where rail services were suspended to defuse a bomb, and a separate event in Cologne last year that required the evacuation of over 20,000 residents following the discovery of an unexploded device.
