Bäckebo
In the afternoon, June 13, 1944, a big exploision was heard above Bäckebo, about fourty kilometres northwest of Kalmar. The exploision turned out to be a German V-2 rocket (official name was A-4) that exploded at an altitude of about 1000 meters. The V-2 was one of several rockets that the Germans tried to develop at the research and testing facility Peenemünde on the German North Sea coast, about 350 kilometeres south of Bäckebo. In this case, the rocket was probably part of a program called Wasserfall. A program aimed at developing operator-controlled rockets. This specific rocket was supposed to explode over the Baltic Sea, but the operator probably lost control and the rocket continued north and exploded over Bäckebo. Debris fell over a large area but without causing any major material or personal damages. The rocket itself fell into a forest and caused a smaller crater. The rocket and its parts were then collected and sent to the Aeronautics Defence Institute and analyzed. The Swedish government later sent a protest note to the german government who in turn apologized for the incident.
Current status: Preserved with information board (2026).
Location: 56°54' 26.79" N, 15°58' 52.51" E (parking)
Get there: Car.
Follow up in books: Kennedy, Gregory P: Germany´s V-2 Rocket (2006).
On the fiftieth anniversary of the exploison (1994), a memorial plaque was set up at the crater that briefly tells about the exploison and the V2. There is also a miniature V2 rocket next to what is left of the crater. From the parking lot at the gravel road, there is an approximately 300 meters path to the crater. Just follow the signs. There is also a small homemade sign with the text, Bomben, at the parking lot.