Former V2 Launch Site Rijsterbos

In the autumn of 1944, a total of 77 V2 missiles were fired from the Rijsterbos in Rijs by the 444th Fernraketen battery.

The hazardous launch did not always go as planned. Besides the 1,000 kilo of explosives the 13 metre high colossus was filled with 8000 litres of rocket fuel. Three times in total a V2 misfired when launched and came back to the forest as a boomerang. At the edge of the forest the so called small Peace temple from Napoleonic times can be found. One of the failed launchings destroyed the building, but it was reconstructed after the war.
At that location a plaque with information on the history of the V2 at Rijsterbos can be found.
In addition a marked trail has been set out by the Tourist Information leading the walker along the locations which were of significance in 1944.

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Source

• Text: Jelle Ywema
• Photos: Bundesarchiv Bild 141-1879