Cologne Completes Largest Post-War Evacuation as WWII Bombs Defused
Cologne, Germany, has completed its largest evacuation since World War II, successfully defusing three unexploded U.S. Bombs discovered during preparatory work for road construction. The operation, which began on Monday, June 2, 2025, and concluded on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, required the removal of over 20,000 residents from the city center.
Authorities initiated the large-scale evacuation after the bombs were unearthed in the Deutz district, across the Rhine from Cologne’s Old Town. The area affected included homes, shops, hotels, schools, a major train station, and even the Eduardus Hospital, where intensive care patients were evacuated by ambulance. Cultural institutions such as the Philharmonic Hall and numerous museums were also impacted.
The bomb disposal operation faced a brief delay due to a resident in the Old Town refusing to evacuate. Public order officials, police, and the fire department were ultimately required to enforce the evacuation order, with authorities warning that those who refused to leave could face substantial fines.
According to Kai Kulschewski, head of explosive ordnance disposal in Düsseldorf, who coordinated the disposal, the defusing operation proceeded as planned once all residents were cleared from the area. “We can only start when the last person is out,” he stated.
The evacuated zone encompassed the entire Old Town, 58 hotels, three Rhine bridges, the town hall, and two care homes. Notably, Cologne Cathedral remained outside the immediate danger area. Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national rail operator, warned of significant disruptions to train services, with many trains diverted or canceled.
The city identified the Neubrücker Ring and Rather Kirchweg as key roads impacted by the necessary street closures. The danger radius established by bomb disposal experts was 300 meters. A refugee accommodation housing 73 people was also included in the evacuation zone.
The discovery of unexploded ordnance from World War II remains a recurring issue in German cities like Cologne and Berlin, which experienced heavy bombing during the war. Cologne was particularly heavily bombed.
As of Wednesday afternoon, , authorities announced the successful defusal of all three bombs and the gradual lifting of street closures. The Cologne Transport Authority (KVB) confirmed that public transportation services would return to normal operation following the completion of the operation. Affected KVB lines included the 157 and 179 buses, which were rerouted during the evacuation.
