Cologne, Germany underwent its largest post-war evacuation on Wednesday as three unexploded WWII U.S. bombs were discovered. Over 20,000 residents were evacuated from the city center, impacting homes, schools, hospitals, and transportation. Experts successfully defused the bombs within an hour. While unexploded ordnance is common in Germany, this evacuation was significant due to the location's proximity to the historic center and the disruption to key infrastructure including bridges and the Rhine River.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.