Approximately 18,000 residents were temporarily evacuated from central Dresden, Germany, after a World War II bomb was discovered on the banks of the Elbe River on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Largest Evacuation in Dresden’s History
This operation marked the largest evacuation ever conducted in Dresden — a city in eastern Germany heavily bombed by Allied forces in February 1945. Explosive ordnance disposal experts successfully defused a 250-kilogram (550-pound) British bomb that had been uncovered the previous day, March 10, during construction work on a bridge — part of which collapsed in 2024.
Massive Security Effort
The evacuation began around 9 a.m. local time and involved more than 400 police officers, a helicopter, and drones. Authorities cleared homes, businesses, schools, nursing homes, and offices within a one-kilometre radius of the site. Among the historic landmarks affected were the Zwinger Palace and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).
Next Steps for the Device
According to police, the defused bomb will now be transported to a specialized facility for safe disposal.
Dresden has seen similar discoveries in recent months: unexploded ordnance from WWII was also found and safely neutralized in January and August 2025. The city remains among the most heavily bombed in Europe during the war — particularly during the devastating Allied air raids of February 13–14, 1945.