Bomb safely deactivated - Explosive neutralized
550-Pound World War II Bomb Discovered in Dresden: Evacuation and Successful Defusing
On August 6, 2025, a significant incident unfolded in Dresden, Germany, when a 550-pound British World War II bomb was discovered near the Carola Bridge. The bomb, which was still armed with a detonator, triggered an immediate evacuation of around 17,000 residents within a 1,000-meter radius.
The evacuation, which started early in the morning, affected key landmarks such as the Frauenkirche church, several hotels, and parts of Dresden's Old Town. Emergency services worked diligently to clear the area by 9 a.m., making way for the bomb disposal specialists who would later neutralize the threat.
The bomb disposal operations commenced after the evacuation was complete. Bomb disposal expert Holger Klehmig led the team that successfully defused the bomb later the same day. The incident marked a stressful day for those involved in Dresden, with many facilities like kindergartens, churches, and ministries, including the town hall, temporarily closed due to the evacuation.
This event is part of a broader pattern of uncovering unexploded ordnance from World War II in Germany decades after the war. Dresden itself suffered intensive bombing campaigns during the war, with the city center being heavily damaged and up to 25,000 people losing their lives. Similar large-scale evacuations have occurred recently in other German cities such as Cologne.
At 1:19 PM, Klehmig declared the area safe, and soon after, the cordon was lifted, allowing the evacuated residents to return to their homes. The ordnance disposal service continued their work, ensuring the bomb was safely neutralized.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing impact of World War II on urban areas in Germany and the complexity of safely managing legacy munitions during modern infrastructure work.
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/dresden-evacuates-thousands-after-world-war-ii-bomb-discovered/a-56269815 [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58139768 [3] https://www.thelocal.de/20210727/cologne-evacuates-20000-people-over-wwii-bomb [4] https://www.dw.com/en/cologne-evacuates-20000-people-over-wwii-bomb/a-58276253 [5] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ww2-bomb-dresden-germany-evacuation-b823510.html
Politics and general news headlines might report on the recent war-and-conflicts-related incident in Dresden, Germany, where a 550-pound British World War II bomb was discovered near the Carola Bridge, leading to the evacuation of over 17,000 residents last August 6, 2025. Crime-and-justice updates may cover the vital role played by bomb disposal expert Holger Klehmig, who successfully defused the bomb later the same day, ensuring public safety.
