Why is there still so many unexploded bombs in Germany today?

Question

According to the German Authorties there are still tons of unexploded bombs all throughout Germany that can still explode.They are still dangerous today?If they didn't blow up in WW2 .Why would they still be so sensitive today of exploding if they did'nt explode when they hit the ground?

Answer 1

Old style bombs - containing dynamite - can remain buried for decades. The potentially lethal contents

can remain dry since the bombs were dropped (failing to explode due to,say, a faulty TRIGGER mechanism - designed to ignite the bomb on IMPACT).

They are STILL therefore potentially highly dangerous. Bombs might come to the surface due to soil erosion,

farming activities, etc - and need very careful handling. The casings of a bomb might be slightly corroded -

the trigger mechanism SET OFF if the bomb is handled roughly - etcetcetra.

What applies in Germany does of course apply equally to other countries - UK, France, Poland, etc - where

'Nazi' Germany dropped 100,000s of similar bombs - and which will ocassionally come to light many, many years later.

Answer 2

The Nitro in any thing has a habit of settling to the bottom and becoming more unstable the longer it sets. This is why you turn dynamite in storage a 1/4 turn every 3 month it sets and do not keep it but for 1 year in storage. Bad fuses was probably why most did not go off. They should be well corroded by now. Now you can freeze it and render it reasonably safe to move.

Answer 3

As they age and decay, they can get more sensitive.



The trigger mechanisms and casings corrode, plus the chemicals in the explosives & primers can slowly decompose or crystallise out, making them sensitive to vibration even if the fuse trigger is not externally activated.



Some bulk explosives can change over time, from being safe to handle to being movement and impact sensitive.



The primer or detonator charges are ultra-sensitive to start with...

Answer 4

Because AS Old Munitions corrode & deteriorate, their Explosive Substances- become MORE Unstable & likely to go off- at the slightest Touch. It's the SAME with Old Dynamite; the Older it IS- the more DANGEROUS- it Becomes !! :o

Answer 5

Hi this just goes to show lack of knowledge about explosives and weapons. some explosive agents become unstable over time and anything could trigger one to go off.

that and mining or digging a tunnel so watch this space.

Answer 6

Germany was very heavily bombed so it is no surprise