Walter Merz (fireworks)

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Walter Merz (born February 1, 1906 in Schramberg (Black Forest), † December 4, 1978 in Hamburg ) was a German fireworker .

Career

Gravestone Walter Merz, Ohlsdorf Cemetery

As a 34-year-old mechanical engineer , Merz went to the Luftwaffe's aviator technology school in Halle (Saale) in 1940 , where he trained weapons controllers and fireworkers. In 1943 he volunteered as a demolition commando in the Ruhr area , and was then transferred to Hamburg in November 1944 . There he began in 1945 as a "foreman" of an ammunition and bomb clearance squad and later became head demolition foreman of the Hamburg dud clearance in the civil engineering department of the building authority. Through his numerous duds - defusing 1945-1961 became very popular Sprengmeister Walter Merz in Hamburg. According to his information, he rendered a total of around 4500 high-explosive bombs of all calibres harmless or detonated them without causing damage, which is considered a world record. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Hamburg silver medal as early as 1951 .

On January 1, 1962, Merz retired and was still an international expert . Erich Frodermann took over his duties in Hamburg . In 1978 Merz suffered an injury to his spine and died on December 4th in the St. Georg Hospital, he was buried in the Ohlsdorf cemetery in Hamburg, grid square AD 36 (east of Chapel 6).

Walter Merz was married and has two sons.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Hamburger Abendblatt , October 24, 1977 ( Memento of the original from November 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.abendblatt.de
  2. ↑ a b c Hamburger Abendblatt , December 17, 1978 ( Memento of the original from November 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.abendblatt.de
  3. ↑ Hans P. Bull, Thomas Fraatz-Rosenfeld; Commemoration for Werner Thieme on his 80th birthday: Contributions from the Friends of the Administration Seminar; LIT Verlag Münster, 2003, page 192
  4. ↑ Bearer of the silver medal of honor
  5. ↑ Celebrity Graves
personal data
SURNAME Merz, Walter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German fireworkers
DATE OF BIRTH February 1, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH Schramberg
DATE OF DEATH 4th December 1978
Place of death Hamburg