On June 4, 2025, Cologne, Germany, conducted its largest evacuation since World War II after the discovery of three unexploded U.S. bombs in the Deutz district. Approximately 20,500 residents, workers, and hotel guests were evacuated from a 1,000-meter radius around the site to facilitate the safe defusal of the ordnance. The situation in Cologne underscores the ongoing challenges posed by wartime remnants, even eight decades after the conflict's end.

The bombs, identified as two 1,000-kilogram and one 500-kilogram devices, were uncovered during road construction preparations. All were equipped with impact fuses, heightening the risk and necessitating immediate action. The evacuation zone encompassed critical infrastructure, including hospitals, care homes, schools, museums, and the Messe/Deutz train station.

Three key bridges over the Rhine River were temporarily closed, and river shipping was suspended to ensure public safety. Authorities initiated the evacuation early in the morning, conducting door-to-door checks and issuing warnings to ensure compliance. Public transport and road traffic experienced significant disruptions, and cultural institutions, including city hall, were temporarily closed.

Despite the scale of the operation, few people utilized the designated shelters, opting instead to stay outdoors in favorable weather conditions. Bomb disposal experts planned to deactivate the devices once the evacuation zone was fully cleared. Unexploded ordnance from World War II remains a persistent issue in Germany, with thousands of such devices discovered annually. As Cologne navigates this complex operation, the city reflects on its history and the enduring impact of past conflicts on present-day life.