Hanau: That’s why the bomb defusal went wrong

Hanau (Hesse) – Nobody could have guessed that. A German 250 kilo bomb from the Second World War was detonated in Hanau on Thursday. The experts assumed it was a phosphorus bomb, but instead it was chock-full of explosives.

Despite extensive protective measures, such as a protective wall made of 15 shipping containers filled with water, numerous windows were broken and roofs were damaged.

How did the mix-up happen?

BILD asked the responsible person Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Darmstadt regional council.

BILD: What kind of bomb was it?

Spokesman Matthias Schieder told BILD: “The bomb had all the characteristics of a German incendiary bomb of the Brand C 250 A type. However, it was not filled with incendiary agents as usual, but with explosives. This was not visible to the experts on site, as they cannot drill open the bomb.”

Would other protective measures have been necessary?

The resulting very complex protective measures were taken regardless of the bomb type. Related to Hanau Unfortunately, the proximity (30 meters from buildings) to the buildings made it seem unlikely that property damage could occur despite all precautions – this happens regularly in such operations. Important: The effects of the bomb would also have been triggered by a different type of bomb.

In the end, what matters is that no people were harmed. According to our information, everyone was able to return to their homes.

What are the experiences with German ordnance from? Second World War? As a rule, you read about Allied unexploded bombs.

In Germany “the Reich’s own weapons” are found almost every day defused. German ordnance can be recorded and identified by the experts from the state clearance services in the same way as Allied ordnance can be identified.

Will there be more bomb explosions 80 years after the war?

The decision as to how the danger can be eliminated is made by looking closely at the object found. Factors such as general condition, type of ignition and size determine the further course of the procedure. However, due to the long period of time the object is located, it can also mean that explosion has to be chosen as a last resort to avert danger.