Two World War II bombs defused in Datteln – 4,000 people evacuated!

Two World War II bombs defused in Datteln – 4,000 people evacuated!

In an unprecedented operation, over 4,000 citizens had to be evacuated in Datteln on July 15, 2025 after two World War II bombs were discovered during exploratory work. These massive relics - a 5-cannon American bomb and a 10-cannon British bomb, both fitted with detonators - lay just a few hundred meters apart. The first emergency services were alerted at 9 a.m., and the coordination of the extensive measures began at 8 a.m. at the Datteln fire and rescue station, as reported by lokalkompass.de.

The evacuation should not only affect the nearby nursing home, but also a large part of the Hagem district. For this purpose, patient transport trains were requested in advance. There was support from over 230 emergency services, including the fire department, police, various aid organizations such as the DRK, the Malteser and Johanniter as well as the Technical Relief Organization. The preparations, which were based on lessons learned from incidents with similar suspicions, required precise planning that turned out to be essential.

Evacuation and support of local residents

During the evacuation process, a citizen hotline was set up to assist residents with questions. Despite these efforts, difficulties arose during the evacuation. Some citizens only left their homes after threats of coercive measures. The facilities to accommodate the evacuated people were diverse: three accommodations were provided for residents who were able to walk, while the town hall served as a shelter for bedridden patients.

The challenges also included the necessary transport of over 50 lying patients, which had to be carried out quickly using special rights such as blue lights and sirens. In total, over 160 residents were cared for in the evacuation centers. The fire department thanked the residents for their understanding and cooperation in this difficult situation.

Masked danger under control

The defusing of both bombs was ultimately successfully completed at 11:30 p.m. The evacuated residents and seniors from the nursing home were then transported back, which posed another challenge for the emergency services. After the last emergency services left their duties at 2:45 a.m., the team was able to look back proudly on the work they had accomplished. They were supported by emergency services from the Recklinghausen, Coesfeld and Gelsenkirchen districts, which underlines the broader cooperation in such crisis situations.

The incident in Datteln highlights the ongoing challenge of explosive ordnance disposal in Germany. Historical legacies of military conflict remain a potential threat - a fact that is often ignored by the public but requires constant vigilance. This topic is covered in detail in Wikipedia, which shows that the causes and necessities for such operations require in-depth understanding.