MUNA Memorial in the Hees Forest – St. Josef Hospital Xanten loop from Fürstenberg
MUNA Memorial in the Hees Forest – St. Josef Hospital Xanten loop from Fürstenberg
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MUNA Memorial in the Hees Forest – St. Josef Hospital Xanten loop from Fürstenberg
01:18
4.98km
30m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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1.10 km
MUNA Memorial in the Hees Forest
Highlight • Monument
Bombs and air mines were filled, assembled, stored and shipped here. There are still over 100 bunkers in the entire forest area, most of them were ammunition depots.
43 people were killed in an explosion in November 1942. The tragic thing about the whole story was that it could not be talked about because it was a secret manufacturing facility.
In 1948 the facility was completely destroyed by the allies and all explosives were sunk in the Rhine near Birten, where it is still located today.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2.42 km
Bench in the Forest
Highlight • Viewpoint
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2.58 km
Heeswald Forest and Munitions Depot Ruins
Highlight • Forest
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2.91 km
Ruins of the Luftmunitionsanstalt Xanten bunkers
Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site
Those interested in history can find further information on Wikipedia, for example: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftmunitionsanstalt_Xanten
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4.19 km
Ruins of the Luftmunitionsanstalt Xanten
Highlight • Historical Site
😯☠👻
And also how nature brings everything back ... 🌳🌲
Worth knowing:
de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftmunitionsanstalt_Xanten
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4.63 km
Luftwaffe Ammunition Depot (MUNA) Xanten Historical Site
Highlight • Historical Site
(...)
The complex covered an area of over 1.6 km². Most of the more than 100 ammunition and detonator warehouses were located on the west side of the Heesberg and Wolfsberg. Surrounded by a wide protective wall, they had a rectangular floor plan of approx. 15 × 18 m, consisted of plastered brick walls with an 18 cm thick reinforced concrete ceiling and usually had two entrances. The detonator stores were about half the size and had only one entrance. The loading ramp, which was about one meter high, faced the path and was accessible via a staircase. They were connected to the work and warehouse buildings, garages for the transport vehicles and the MUNA loading station on the east side of the Hees via farm roads. The administration building, a locksmith's shop, a carpenter's workshop and utilities such as a well with a water pump were located where the St. Josef Hospital stands today. Parts of the ammunition factory were underground and ran through the mountain with an extensive tunnel network. With 1,200 employees, the air munitions facility was the largest employer in the region.
On November 20, 1942, an explosion occurred in workhouse 4 while assembling a B-1000 aerial mine, causing the death of 43 people (1 fireworker, 40 male workers, 2 female workers). To commemorate the victims of the catastrophe, a memorial was erected opposite the site of the accident after the war.
(...)
Remains of the former air munitions facility can still be found in the Hees today. It is one of the most important military historical monuments from the Second World War in North Rhine-Westphalia and is unique in the Rhineland. The munitions and detonator stores and some warehouses were blown up by the Allies in 1948 and now exist only as dilapidated ruins overgrown by trees and scrub. (...)
When hiking through the local recreation area, you should stay on the paths, if only for the sake of self-preservation. There are still remains of ammunition in the ground.
Reference and link to full article:
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftmunitionsanstalt_Xanten
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4.91 km
St. Josef Hospital Xanten
Highlight • Rest Area
Tip by
4.98 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
2.58 km
1.73 km
663 m
Surfaces
2.52 km
1.69 km
663 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Saturday 4 July
23°C
17°C
82 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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