Major evacuation in Cologne after second world war bombs discovered
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Germany: Cologne Evacuates 20,000 in WWII Bomb Clearing Operation
Above: An image of the closed-off Central Station in Cologne on June 4, 2025. Construction workers discovered three unexploded World War II bombs at the Deutz shipyards, leading to the evacuation of 20,000 residents from central Cologne, Germany. Image copyright: Kadir Ilboga/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This evacuation demonstrates the German authorities' commitment to public safety. The operation shows how seriously officials take unexploded ordnance threats, prioritizing civilian protection over economic disruption. Modern bomb disposal techniques allow for the safe handling of these decades-old weapons when proper precautions are taken. These findings are unpleasant but are relatively common.
Establishment-critical narrative
To this day, the legacy of WWII-era American bombing causes inconvenience in Germany. This latest discovery resulted in a whopping 20,000 people being disrupted.