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Huge aerial bomb discovered: Ettlingen must be evacuated!
A bomb weighing 500 kg was found in Ettlingen near Karlsruhe. Hundreds of residents are threatened with evacuation.
Huge aerial bomb discovered: Ettlingen must be evacuated!
In Ettlingen, south of Karlsruhe, an explosive discovery from the Second World War is causing a stir. Today, July 7, 2025, a 500 kilogram aerial bomb was found during exploratory work for a new residential area. The discovery took place on Monday on the grounds of the Kaserne-Nord. The circumstance brings with it some challenges, especially for the residents who now have to be evacuated.
Up to 1,500 people within a 400 meter radius of the bomb discovery have to temporarily leave their homes. The affected areas include Neuwiesenreben and the residential area between Alexiusstraße and Lindscharren/Gutleuthausstraße. The houses between Durlacher- and Karlsruher-Straße are also affected. The city administration has set up two contact points for these people and organized a shuttle bus to support the evacuees.
Evacuation and security measures
The city advises residents to stay with friends or relatives if possible. The contact points mentioned are available for those who do not have their own accommodation. The evacuation means that those affected should be prepared to be away for several hours. In particular, urgently needed medications should not be forgotten.
The exact time when the bomb will be defused is still unclear, but the explosive ordnance disposal service is already on site. The bomb should either be seized and transported away or, if this is not possible, detonated on site in a controlled manner. In this context, the expertise of the specialists is of utmost importance. After all, around 5,000 unexploded ordnance from the war period are cleared in Germany every year - a task that is now being carried out again in Ettlingen.
A look at the background
It is estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 tons of unexploded ammunition from the Second World War are still underground in Germany. Finds during construction work are not uncommon and must always be reported to the police. When discoveries like this occur, a safety radius is established to protect the public. This happens for a reason: older bombs can be unpredictable, and the risk of self-detonation is real.
The residents have several reasons to be patient. It is not only important that the defusing is carried out professionally, but also that everyone is safe. Until everything is clarified, the citizens of Ettlingen have to stay out of the way and stay alert. The city administration will continue to provide information about the progress of the measures and is working closely with the responsible authorities.
The findings about the dangers posed by these unexploded bombs should also make us think: such finds are not only historical relics, but can also pose a threat to life in the here and now. Given history, the news that we live in a region where such treasures and dangers lie almost sounds like an echo of a bygone era.
For current information and updates about the situation in Ettlingen, take a look at the reporting from SWR and Swabian. You can also find further background information on the problem surrounding such bombs at ARD Alpha.