Resurfaced Treasures: The Story of Nitropenta Crates from Wolfratshausen
Duo Contributes Unique Exhibit Items to Prized Arms Collection Hidden in Attic.
By: Dominik Stallein
Wolfratshausen Digs Up Hidden Gems
In many residential dwellings, forgotten relics of the past lie hidden. A couple from Wolfratshausen has recently shared one such hidden gem - original ammunition boxes, rightfully earning a place in their local museums.
Festive fervor filled the thick wooden boxes initially capturing Klaudius Ronge's attention, suspicious of their historical nature. The inscriptions "Nitropenta" hinted towards explosives, at least for the informed. Yet, the exciting contents inside the hefty boxes at the Ronges' residence were far from explosive: one box brimmed with Fasching costumes, while another was filled with Duplo blocks, keeping the grandkids entertained.
Crates of Yesteryears: A Museum's Trove
For the people of Wolfratshausen, these crates were everyday storage for a lengthy time, but the Historical Society finds them invaluable. "Nothing short of a lucky find," states Ludwig Gollwitzer. Possessing three Nitropenta ammunition boxes, Klaudius Ronge recently donated one each to the Museum Wolfratshausen, the Museum of Geretsried City, and the Waldram Memorial Site Badehaus.
Repurposed Storage for Eons
These crates most likely originate from the Third Reich, possibly around the year 1938. They served in the munitions factories of the Wolfratshausen Forest, now Geretsried. Ronge inherited these crates from his father, who may have acquired them from a construction site. "He'd probably brought them around someplace," the senior Mr. Ronge suspects at his age of sixty.
The father-figure remained mum on his wartime experiences when speaking with his son, Ronge recounts. "It wasn’t a period he wished to recall," shares the Wolfratshausen native. Mr. Ronge hailed from Upper Silesia, harboring possibly uncomfortable memories from that era. "As I watched footage on the Holocaust, he'd tell me not to believe it. The truth, he claimed, was far more harrowing," quips Klaudius Ronge.
History Broker: Gollwitzer Facilitates Findings to Museums
Thrilled by historical artifacts, family memories, and compelling tales, Gollwitzer, the positive mediator between the Ronges and three museums, praises the donation. He firmly believes that similar historical gems reside in the closets of many Wolfratshausen homes and encourages families to consider showcasing overlooked artifacts that may hold immense value. Interestingly, Ronge senior and his wife, Renate, decided to keep one box - a delightful toybox for their grandchildren. "We don't have any use for the remaining boxes, they’re simply too heavy and impractical," shares Klaudius.
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Footnotes and Clarifications
- Nitropenta: Refers to an explosive compound important in the production of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a powerful explosive used during World War II.
- Historical Significance: Nitropenta ammunition boxes from the Third Reich in Wolfratshausen offer valuable insights into World War II’s military production, logistics, and the region’s involvement in such activities.
- Local Preservation Efforts: Donated crates might be displayed in regional museums, allowing the opportunity to educate visitors about the production process, local communities during that time, and broader military history contexts.
- The Ronges' discovery of Nitropenta crates, initially believed to contain explosives, unexpectedly revealed a treasure trove of lifestyle items such as festive costumes and children's toys, showcasing the transformative power of interior-design over time in home-and-garden settings.
- Ludwig Gollwitzer, a history broker, plays a pivotal role in facilitating the donation of these crates to museums, encouraging family members across Wolfratshausen to explore their home-and-garden areas for hidden gems of interior-design, offering a glimpse into the region's rich lifestyle and history.
