Explosion accident in Hänigsen in 1946

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Site of the Riedel shaft

During the explosion in Hänigsen on June 18, 1946, between 10,000 and 12,000 tons of ammunition exploded, which were stored in the Riedel mine, part of the Hänigsen army ammunition facility near the village of Hänigsen , which belongs to the municipality of Uetze, in today's Hanover region . 86 people were killed.

Ammunition and chemical warfare agents ( blue cross warfare agents ) were stored in the Riedel mine during the Second World War . They were located in several chambers at a depth of 500 to 700 meters.

During salvage and dismantling work on June 18, 1946, a series of underground explosions occurred. 82 men died underground, one fell from the headframe, three suffocated from gases during rescue work. The environment was contaminated.

The condition and whereabouts of the conventional and chemical weapons is not known, as parts of the facility are no longer accessible. The mine is currently being flooded as planned.

See also

• List of the largest man-made, non-nuclear explosions

Individual evidence

1. ↑ June 18, 1946: Explosion in the Hänigsen Salt Mine , NDR1, June 19, 2005, accessed July 5, 2020. - Audio (2:33)
2. ↑ Ralf E. Krupp: Expert opinion on the flooding of the Lower Saxony Riedel potash and rock salt mine , p. 13

Coordinates: 52 ° 30 '26.4 "  N , 10 ° 6' 28.6"  E