The German city of Cologne recently completed an extensive evacuation of 20,500 residents, marking the largest such operation since World War II, prompted by the discovery and subsequent defusal of three unexploded WWII-era bombs. These bombs, consisting of two massive 20-tonne ordnance and a single 10-tonne bomb, were located in a shipyard and led city officials to declare a significant danger zone.
As part of the evacuation, various public facilities were cleared, including a hospital, two nursing homes, and the city’s second-largest train station. Educational institutions, places of worship, museums, and two prominent cultural sites—the Musical Dome theatre and the Philharmonic Hall—were also included in the area of concern.
The remnants of the war are not unusual for Cologne, which suffered extensive damage from Allied bombings during WWII. However, this evacuation was unprecedented in scale since the war’s conclusion. Officials confirmed that the bombs were defused successfully, with ordnance disposal specialists from the Düsseldorf district ensuring public safety. As a result, local streets and buildings are progressively reopening, allowing residents to return to their homes.
Cologne’s historical context reveals that it endured approximately 262 air raids during the war, resulting in the deaths of around 20,000 citizens and the destruction of nearly all structures in the Old Town, including 91 churches. The city underwent significant reconstruction efforts following the conflict, restoring many landmarks to their former glory. Despite this recovery, the city still faces periodic evacuations when unexploded ordnance are uncovered; recently, evacuations for similar incidents affected 10,000 residents last October and 3,000 in December.
This latest operation underscores the lingering legacy of wartime destruction in Cologne and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the city in ensuring public safety from historical threats.