WELT Documentary

Millions of Tons of WW2 Bombs Still Corroding Beneath the Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea Contamination from World War II Munitions | Germany's Underwater Danger Zone Baltic Sea's Deadly Secret: 35,000 Tons of Corroding WW2 Explosives Millions of Tons of WW2 Bombs Still Corroding Beneath the Baltic Sea 00:00 Introduction Hidden Arsenal Beneath the Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is a habitat and tourist magnet, yet beneath its waters lie millions of tons of World War II munitions. From pistol cartridges to V1 warheads, bombs and torpedoes corrode on the seabed. In Lübeck Bay alone, around 35,000 tons rest underwater. Researchers from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre track rising levels of TNT and RDX in water, sediment and fish. Explosives, Corrosion and Health Risks Saltwater eats through thin casings, releasing toxic compounds. Scientists detect record contamination near decaying V1 warheads. Flatfish from dumping zones show significantly higher tumor rates. White phosphorus and gun cotton still wash ashore, posing severe risks to humans. 10:45 Germany’s Billion-Euro Cleanup Mission Germany plans to remove 1.6 million tons of munitions from the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Using AI-guided robots, sonar mapping and floating demolition platforms, specialists recover and destroy bombs. The project could become a global model for clearing underwater war debris. 31:00 Between 1945 and 1949, the Allied forces faced an unprecedented problem: mountains of German and Allied munitions were stockpiled across Europe. Neutralizing each bomb individually was impossible. Under British command, conferences with fisheries, shipping authorities and regional officials identified designated dumping zones in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. German crews transported thousands of tons by barge from ports like Lübeck and Kiel, releasing entire cargo loads through bottom-opening hulls or discarding shells along routes in so-called “on-route dumping.” The documentation was meticulous. British military records detail daily operations, including exact tonnage and coordinates. Yet economic pressure and logistical shortcuts meant that not all munitions reached official zones. Some were jettisoned closer to coastlines to save time and fuel. At the same time, vast minefields laid during the war remained active. Naval mines, torpedoes and aerial bombs continued to sink ships even after hostilities ended. What was once considered a practical disposal method has evolved into one of Europe’s largest environmental and security challenges. #balticsea #worldwar2 #ww2 #military #weltdocumentary 📺 Watch more documentaries https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-5sURDcN_Zl8hBqkvZ6uXFpP3t55HU9s 🔔 Subscribe to our full documentary channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBAeFXaLV1ZqKqc-Uf3pKaA?sub_confirmation=1