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Bombs, land mines, ammunition — the deadly legacy of war

June 4, 2025

As the German city of Cologne evacuated some 20,000 people to defuse three World War II bombs, DW looks at the problem of bombs, land mines and other war legacy remaining dangerous long after the conflicts are over.

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Defused WWII bomb
German cities keep finding WWII bombs they have to defuseImage: Patrick Pleul/dpa/picture alliance

Large areas of the city center of Cologne were closed off on Wednesday as experts defused three bombs left over from World War II.

Despite the war having ended 80 years ago, bombs continue to be found and defused across Europe.

The same problem exists on a global scale, with anything from bombs to land mines and simple ammunition strewn across the land long after the end of military conflicts. 

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