Lake Garda’s Waters Harbor Dangerous WWII Ordnance, History of Disposals

The waters of Lake Garda hide an enormous arsenal; an imposing legacy of wartime events, including recent conflicts such as the one that devastated Kosovo two years ago. This is evidenced by the discoveries of ordnance that frequently occur along the shores of the Benaco.

A few days ago, on Limone beach, a young German boy found a 75-millimeter mortar shell from World War II in his hands. The old device, about thirty centimeters long, was safely detonated by army ordnance disposal experts near Tremosine.

The alarm over bombs in Lake Garda gained national prominence on April 16, 1999, when a F15 of NATO, returning from a mission in Kosovo and low on fuel, dropped six bombs into the lake before landing at Ghedi airport.

Even the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) has failed to locate and recover that explosive payload, which likely lies on the bottom of Lake Garda. However, in the northern waters of the Benaco, bombs and shells are also believed to be present, especially around the island of Trimelone.

Historical discoveries and dangers in the waters of Benaco

On that rocky promontory emerging off Brenzone, fifty years ago, shortly after World War II, a machine gun emplacement exploded, which stored weapons and ammunition, much of which ended up in the lake. From one shore to the other.

In Manerba, in 1976, over 200 grenades were recovered; an additional 300 were retrieved at Toscolano in 1983. But the record goes to Riva; in 1984, after a cleanup effort, soldiers managed to inert approximately 30,000 grenades.

In Desenzano, in 1991, hundreds of shells and 400 hand grenades were discovered. Also in the waters of the capital of Lower Lake Brescia, in 1999, numerous mortar shells were found.

In 1994, off Toscolano, five aircraft bombs were identified. The richest haul occurred last year, when in Sirmione, a ‘fishing’ operation yielded a significant find: seventy aircraft bombs and several mortar shells for military disposal.