Sweden: Hikers find live Nazi grenade from World War II near ski resort

Mountain hikers discovered a live World War II grene one kilometre from lift system at Riksgränsen, a major ski resort in Norrbotten County. German grene, which measured 33 centimetres in length and eight centimetres in diameter, was discovered between two stones on Swedish-Norwegian border. Following hikers' alert, police and military professionals were soon deployed.

“We blew it up right re on spot; re's no need to take any chances. It was live and fully loed,” according to Captain Robert Eriksson of Swedish Armed Forces group for explosive ordnance disposal, Sputnik reported.

According to Eriksson, an 800-meter risk zone was established up ahe of incident, and a police helicopter was employed.

“It was a real bang, but you don't notice much after that. With ancient, environmentally damaged ammunition that has been hanging about for a long time, you never know how sensitive it is,” Eriksson ded, as per Sputnik reports.

Riksgränsen is Sweden's norrnmost ski resort, situated 200 kilometres north of Arctic Circle, and is known for its midnight sun lifts in May and June.

Sweden was infamous for maintaining a policy of neutrality during World War II

During World War II, Sweden maintained its neutrality. Sweden's fate was unknown when war broke out on September 1, 1939. Sweden maintained its official neutrality status throughout war due to a combination of its geographical placement in Scandinavian Peninsula, realpolitik manoeuvring during an unpredictable course of events, and a focused military build-up after 1942.

Since end of Napoleonic Wars in 1814 and invasion of Norway, Sweden has maintained a neutral attitude in international relations for more than a century. However, Sweden was not attacked directly, during World War II. It was, neverless, subjected to naval blockes by British and Germans, as well as Soviet airstrikes of some cities. Sweden permitted Wehrmacht to use Swedish rails to quickly transport troops and heavy weapons from Norway to Finland during Nazi invasion of Soviet Union. Furrmore, throughout conflict, iron ore was sold to Nazi Germany. Sweden "ignored greater moral issues of war and played both sides for profit," as Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister at time, put it.

IMAGE: Pixabay/Unsplash