500lb bomb causes the evacuation of thousands in Germany

The German city of Potsdam has evacuated over 3,000 residents after construction workers unearthed a 500lb bomb dropped during WWII.

Police shut down the area while experts defused and removed the American made bomb. Roads leading to the bomb site were closed and railroad schedules were also disrupted.

Germany’s Unexploded Bomb Problem

The post-war evacuation of tens of thousands of Germany’s citizens is not an uncommon event. This incident takes the tally to 192 unexploded bombs discovered in the Potsdam area since the end of the war. The last American 500lb bomb discovery in Potsdam was back in July.

Germany’s largest ever evacuation occurred in September 2017 when 65,000 Frankfurt residents were removed from their homes and businesses; the result of an RAF bomb. The weapon in question was one of Britain’s heaviest models, a 1.4 tonne high capacity type, colloquially referred to as a Cookie.

The UK faces a similar threat. In February, a German 1,000lb bomb find temporarily closed London City Airport.

How can this threat be mitigated?

Brimstone provides Intrusive Magnetometer Survey services to the UK construction industry. These surveys allow our customers to carry out piling works safe in the knowledge that their pile drivers will not strike any large German bombs. To find out more about this service, click here.

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