US EditionHuge Piles of Rusty WWII Ammunition Are Poisoning the Baltic Sea. Germany Is Trying to Recover Them
German divers are recovering 900 tons of WWII ammunition off Boltenhagen to prevent explosions and toxic contamination in the Baltic Sea, a $117 million government effort.
- On September 1, 2025, a press tour demonstrated efforts to recover World War II ammunition from the Baltic Sea near Boltenhagen, Germany.
- This event occurred because about 1.6 million tons of rusty ammunition lie on the North and Baltic Sea floors, emitting toxic substances and posing explosive risks.
- A four-week pilot project uses divers and engineers funded with 100 million euros to explore safe recovery and destruction methods, employing the Baltic Lift platform off Boltenhagen.
- GEOMAR published a February 2025 study showing toxic compounds from explosives accumulate in marine life and sometimes reach critical levels, while Schoenen said, “This isn’t a routine job.”
- The German environment ministry leads cleanup efforts, aiming to develop automated offshore facilities that safely destroy ammunition and reduce ongoing marine contamination risks.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Toxic ammunition is rotting away in the Baltic Sea. Germany wants to recover it before it’s too late
While tensions between Russia and NATO are building up in the Baltic Sea, Europeans are still busy cleaning up the mess World War II left behind in the ocean. Approximately 1.6 million tons of old...
Associated Press News
Huge piles of rusty WWII ammunition are poisoning the Baltic Sea. Germany is trying to recover them
While tensions between Russia and NATO are building up in the Baltic Sea, Europeans are still busy cleaning up the mess World War II left behind in the ocean.
Toxic Ammunition Decaying in the Baltic Sea: Germany Races to Recover It Before Disaster Strikes
Tens of thousands of tons of toxic ammunition, remnants from past conflicts, lie deteriorating at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, posing an escalating environmental threat. Germany has launched an urgent campaign to recover these hazardous materials before they cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and public health. As the deadly ordnance continues to corrode, [...]
Toxic Ammunition Decaying in the Baltic Sea: Germany Races to Recover It Before Disaster Strikes – EUROP INFO
Tens of thousands of tons of toxic ammunition, remnants from past conflicts, lie deteriorating at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, posing an escalating environmental threat. Germany has launched an urgent campaign to recover these hazardous materials before they cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and public health. As the deadly ordnance continues to corrode, experts warn that time is running out to prevent a looming ecological disaster…
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