World War II Bombs Discovered in European City Trigger Large-Scale Evacuation
Mass evacuation in Cologne as three WWII bombs are safely defused, affecting 20,000 residents and halting city operations.
More than 20,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes in Cologne, Germany, on Wednesday after construction crews discovered three unexploded bombs dating back to World War II. The dramatic evacuation marks the largest such operation in the city since the end of the war, underscoring the lingering risks posed by wartime remnants in urban areas across Europe.
The bombs—two American 20-hundredweight devices and one American 10-hundredweight bomb, all equipped with impact fuses—were uncovered during routine exploratory work in the Deutz district earlier in the week. Given the size and volatility of the munitions, officials did not hesitate to move quickly, initiating an emergency action plan that uprooted more than 20,500 people from their residences for several hours.
Authorities called in the Düsseldorf explosive ordnance disposal squad, a highly trained team specializing in defusing historic explosives. The complex operation began early Wednesday and required the complete shutdown of a large swath of central Cologne. Critical infrastructure, including the Eduardus Hospital, two retirement homes, major schools, and the busy Cologne Messe/Deutz train station, temporarily ceased operations. In addition, roadways were blocked, and shipping lanes along the Rhine River came to a halt, paralyzing much of the city’s daily activity.
By early evening, city officials announced on social media that the dangerous task had been completed. "The three World War II bombs in Deutz have been defused. At 7:19 p.m., the three unexploded bombs that had paralyzed large parts of the city were defused," the statement read. Closure orders on roads and bridges began lifting soon after, and relieved residents were escorted back to their homes by shuttle buses and ambulances.
The discovery of historic bombs is not uncommon in Germany, particularly in cities such as Cologne that suffered extensive bombing campaigns during World War II. According to historical records, the city was targeted 262 times between 1940 and 1945, leaving a legacy of unexploded ordnance beneath modern streets. The latest evacuation serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of conflict decades after the guns fell silent.
In the immediate aftermath, city officials emphasized the efficiency and cooperation of both emergency services and affected citizens, crediting the careful coordination for the operation’s success and the prevention of potential tragedy. As the city resumes normal operations, residents once again confront the realities of their wartime past—an echo that continues to shape life in Cologne today.
