Aerial bomb defused in Cham – chaos for evacuated residents!

Aerial bomb defused in Cham – chaos for evacuated residents!

In Cham, Upper Palatinate, things went haywire this morning when a 250-kilogram aerial bomb from the Second World War was discovered. The schnapps number became important not only in a figurative sense, but also in a very real sense: it had to be defused straight away, and that entailed extensive measures. At exactly 5:30 a.m., after careful planning and the erection of a security wall made of eleven containers, the detonator was detonated on site. 

The discovery of the bomb, which was made during construction work on the corner of Joseph-Heilingbrunner-Straße and Sonnenstraße, led to an evacuation that affected approximately 2,500 local residents, hospital patients and residents of the St. Michael nursing home. The district administrator of Cham, Franz Löffler, finally applied for a disaster in the evening in order to activate appropriate security measures.

Evacuation and return

The town hall in Cham was provided as emergency accommodation for the evacuated people, and the entire restricted area extended over 700 meters around the site. While the residents and patients feared that something bad would happen, they remained optimistic and were able to return to their homes and the hospital after the defusing. Regular school lessons also took place without disruption, as the Cham district office announced.

The police, fire brigade, the Technical Relief Agency (THW) and rescue workers were on site to support the evacuation and defusing. The train station in Cham also had to be closed, which affected the regional express 47 between Roding and Furth im Wald. A replacement service between Schwandorf and Furth im Wald has been set up for travelers until Thursday morning. 

Context of explosive ordnance disposal

The topic of explosive ordnance disposal is a well-known topic in Germany. As a result of the Second World War, many cities still have unexploded explosive devices from that time. Such an aerial bomb always poses a significant threat that requires rapid defusing. The process of explosive ordnance disposal is regulated by various regulations and is organized in Germany through special services that are responsible for the disposal and the safety of the public Wikipedia.

The example from Cham is not the only one. A few days ago, on July 7, 2025, a 1,000 kilogram aerial bomb was found in Ettlingen, which resulted in a similarly extensive evacuation. There, too, around 1,500 people had to leave their homes while the bomb was successfully defused. daily news.

Given the numerous operations and challenges involved in explosive ordnance disposal, public safety remains a key concern. New discoveries are constantly making the situation more difficult - timely identification and professional defusing are therefore essential. The work of the emergency services, who often have to work under great pressure and in danger, should be particularly valued by society.