Several submissions that "someone" should take advantage of the Tuggen area had not resulted in action. The association decided to take action. The municipality was asked.

- We got permission from the city gardener to clear up, so we started doing that and are still doing so, says Göran Sundmar, chairman of Bofor's air defense association.

Test track for cannons

Every Tuesday, when seasons and weather permits, volunteers gather from the association to clear. House foundations, foundations and a round, strange concrete structure are again visible in open days.

- This test track was built in 1922. It was to test environmental guns during transport. They started driving cannons after tractors and trucks, and then the cannons did not hold, says Göran.

But already in 1886 the area was used for shooting tests. In a barn that the association is allowed to use, Göran shows a picture taken in 1914. A large cannon is mounted on a foundation in the hill. A foundation that is now once again underlined.

- Here you can see that you had two firing bunkers. They also had testimonials that they shot. The shooting distance was only 125-150 meters at that time. They wanted to test the guns and test gunpowder.

First aerial photo

Alfred Nobel had encountered a patrol with his explosive tests in France and Italy and bought a majority shareholding in the company AB Bofors Gullspång for SEK 1 million at the turn of the year 1893/94.

- Here he has shot a lot of test with rockets. We have seen that in text. With Alfred Nobel's space camera, you took the first aerial photo of Karlskoga with his air torpedo, says Göran.

Play

No big deal today with aerial photos. But when this photo was taken, it was something new and unique. Motif and author? Click on the video. Photo: Thomas Wedin / SVT

The area has been named after the Chipstick that was built here during the Second World War. It provided factories with fuel for heating.

Dramatic accidents

The fact that nature has slowly been allowed to reclaim the area is perhaps not so strange. For the business conducted here has demanded its victims.

- Here at the test track, there were four children at the age of 10 who played a spring day in April 1924 and found a grenade that no one thought was sharp. They all died, says Göran.

In February 1902, a serious explosive accident occurred in a test in which five people were killed, including the chief engineer as well as the canon workshop manager, Arent Silfversparre.

Göran Sundmar, chairman of Bofor's air defense association, has gathered the gang at the barn in the Tuggen area for this week's rundown. Photo: Johannes Weckström / SVT

The association believes that the importance of the place in various ways deserves care and management.

- We want to save as much as possible of historical objects and areas. It is industrial history and the foundation of Karlskoga, says Göran Sundmar.