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K4KittyCrew
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Blockbuster Active

Post by K4KittyCrew »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -bomb.html


Largest evacuation in Germany since the end of WWII triggered by the discovery of the biggest bomb ever dropped by the RAF - the BLOCKBUSTER - with 54,000 told to leave their homes on Christmas Day
Residents living within a mile radius of bomb are having to evacuate their homes
The 1.8-tonne British bomb was discovered on a construction site in the city
Evacuation began 8am on Sunday and the clear out effort is still ongoing
Nearby schools and halls are being used as public gathering points
By Paddy Dinham and Emily Chan For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 10:33 +11:00, 25 December 2016 | UPDATED: 21:41 +11:00, 25 December 2016
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More than 54,000 people are being forced to leave their homes on Christmas day in Germany's biggest evacuation since the Second World war.

An unexploded 'blockbuster' bomb from World War II was found in the southerly city of Augsburg, meaning all residents living within a mile radius are leaving their homes while the device is defused.

The massive British aerial bomb - which was the largest ever dropped by the RAF, weighing 1.8 tonnes - was discovered on a construction site in the city.

This photo of the bomb was posted on social media by the local Polizei SchwabenNord Twitter account

The evacuation began at about 8am (7am GMT) on Christmas Day, with the area to be completely cleared by 10am

The evacuation is expected to affect 32,000 households living within a one-mile radius

Nearby schools and sports halls, as well as an exhibition centre, have been opened for those unable to stay with relatives or friends

An elderly couple wait to be evacuated from a retirement home this morning

Police say it is impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to make the bomb safe

The evacuation began at about 8am (7am GMT) on Christmas Day, with the area to be completely cleared by 10am.

This included the city's Augsburger Vincentinum hospital, with all patients having to be transferred to other hospitals.

And at three minutes past, the police force tweeted: 'It is 10.00 am - To all who are still in the protection zone - this is now to be left immediately!'

Nearby schools and sports halls, as well as an exhibition centre, have been opened for those unable to stay with relatives or friends.

The evacuation is expected to affect 32,000 households living within a one mile radius.

But it seems not everybody took heed of the warning, as half an hour after the clear out cut-off point the Bavarian Red Cross had to tweet: 'IMPORTANT! Only when all people have left their homes is the defusing started.'

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This leaflet shows the radius within which all homes are being evacuated

Another resident is wheeled out of the home as part of the operation to clear everyone within a one-mile radius

The evacuation included the city's Augsburger Vincentinum hospital, with all patients having to be transferred to other hospitals

Some of the vehicles involved in the operation waiting to be dispatched into action earlier this morning

This police tweet reads: 'It is 10.00 am - To all who are still in the protection zone - this is now to be left immediately!'

But it seems not everybody took heed of the warning, as half an hour after the clear out cut-off point the Bavarian Red Cross had to tweet: 'IMPORTANT! Only when all people have left their homes is the defusing started.'
Police set up evacuation warnings all over the city as the residents were cleared out - as many as 54,000 are being forced away from their homes

Germany police use loudspeakers on van for unexploded bomb
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Locals reported that after 10am the city's streets were almost completely deserted, as Augsburg turned into a ghost town.

Police vans were driving all around the city giving out evacuation warnings as residents left their homes.

The city's medieval cathedral and City Hall are also set to be sealed off.


WHAT IS A BLOCKBUSTER?

The name was coined by the press because of the bombs' capabilities of blowing up entire streets

Blockbusters can weigh up to 5.5 tonnes

A device like the one in Augsburg was found in the Rhine near Koblenz in 2011, and another two years later in Dortmund

It was also known as a 'cookie'

Police say it is impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to make the bomb safe.

The evacuation may continue into the night, according to a local news website.

Authorities said Christmas Day was chosen for the bomb to be defused in order to minimise the impact it would have on the city centre.

And the patient locals tweeted their thoughts during the operation.

One said: 'Hopefully everything goes as planned .. and we may all back home .. to all the forces of strength..'

Another added: 'Goodbye #augsburg! See you again tonight hopefully.'

And some were thinking of those who were having to spend their Christmas Day working on the operation, with one tweeting: To all who must do service today because of the #Evakuierung of the #Fliegerbombe, best regards!'

The massive British aerial bomb, weighing 1.8 tonnes, was discovered on a construction site (pictured)

But the site has since been heavily sandbagged as emergency services prepare for the diffusion

Large parts of Augsburg were destroyed on February 25 and 26 1944, when the city was attacked by hundreds of RAF and US bombers. Pictured is a RAF Lancaster bomber during a raid on Duisburg, west Germany, in 1944

Large parts of Augsburg were destroyed on February 25 and 26 1944, when the city was attacked by hundreds of British and US bombers (file photo)

Large parts of Augsburg were destroyed on February 25 and 26 1944, when the city was attacked by hundreds of RAF and US bombers.

While discovering World War II bombs is not unusual in Germany, this is believed to be one of the largest evacuations due to unexploded bomb since the end of the war.

In 2011, 45,000 people were evacuated temporarily to remove a bomb in Koblenz, central Germany.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z4TqdWS37E
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Bruno
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Re: Blockbuster Active

Post by Bruno »

Impressive!
Many thanks John.
Regards.

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AlanW
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Re: Blockbuster Active

Post by AlanW »

Good story, although the Daily Mail has not done it's research very well, stating it to be the largest bomb dropped by the RAF, when it was reasonably small when compared to Grandslam at 22,000lbs.
There is no paralell in warfare, to such courage and determination in the face of danger, over so long a period. Such devotion, should never be forgotten.
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K4KittyCrew
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Re: Blockbuster Active

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Hi Alan, It wouldn't be the Daily Mail without knowledge mistakes, would it?
I put it down to possible younger generation reporting.
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
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