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WORLD WAR TWO

How many WWII bombs are still in Austria?

Only a few days ago, a leftover American bomb dropped on Austria in WWII detonated and tore a huge crater in a Tyrol mountain meadow near the Brenner Pass – some 10m wide and three metres deep. Experts say there’s about one big explosion like this in either Germany or Austria every year.

Published: 11 August 2023 13:03 CEST
Unexploded WWII bomb
An unexploded WWII bomb. Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/grenade-air-bomb-first-world-war-7107/

How many unexploded bombs are there in Austria?

Up to 15,000 WWII era bombs of up to 250 kg are estimated to be buried all over Austria.

By comparison, Germany’s estimated 100,000 remaining bombs dwarfs that figure. But it’s much more than the number likely lurking underground and underwater in the UK, where the British Ministry of Defence says it’s defused just under 1,000 WWII bombs since 2010.

Despite being 80 years old, Austrian bomb experts say their hermetic seal means most found today are still very dangerous.

“These aerial bombs work just as well now as they did 80 years ago, unfortunately,” Austrian demining service (EMD) disarmament specialist Werner Tobisch told Krone newspaper.

The EMD gets about 1,200 calls a year through its offices in Vienna, Linz, and Graz – some three to four every day. Most concern small munition finds like old grenades or cartridges. Over 300 leftover grenades were disposed of in Austria in 2022. But the team also disarms about 20 to 30 bombs of at least 50 kg in size every year all around the country.

Last year they defused around 31 tonnes of leftover WWII explosives.

The work also still claims lives – long after WWII’s end. In 2003, two members of an EMD bomb disposal crew were killed when a 250 kg leftover American bomb they were trying to defuse exploded near Salzburg.

Where are Austria’s WWII bombs?

Crews say there’s no predicting where the next bomb will be found.

Cities and industrial centres are the most logical places to look due to their strategic importance in WWII. Vienna and Graz were both targeted over 50 times each during Allied air raids, with 100,000 bombs having originally fallen and exploded on the capital alone.

By contrast, Salzburg and St. Pölten were hit 16 and 10 times, respectively.

Although some areas may be statistically more likely to have leftover WWII explosives, Allied bombers also hit smaller towns and more remote areas during the war.

Public parks, a football pitch, a farmer’s field, and a forest in Austria have all seen bomb sightings this year. (Photo by ALEXANDER KLEIN / AFP)

As evidence, EMD has recently defused bombs in Alpine locations at elevations of 2,500m or more, some of which are only reachable by helicopter.

Another bomb was found 40m underwater and required divers to go down and carefully bring it up for disposal.

In July, forestry workers discovered an unexploded Russian bomb near the town of St. Stefan in Styria.

In May, police and bomb squad officers had to evacuate a kindergarten in Döbling – a suburban town near Vienna – to defuse an unexploded bomb on a nearby construction site. Only weeks before, a farmer found a 70 kg old Russian bomb while plowing his field near the tiny town of Neusiedl am See in Burgenland.

In 2023, people in Austria have also found old bombs in a public park and on a football pitch. Wels near Linz has had five bomb scares just since January.

Ultimately, an unexploded WWII bomb could potentially be found just about anywhere in Austria today.

READ ALSO: Vienna Nazi art show seeks to address Austria’s WWII legacy

What should I do if I think there might be a bomb somewhere?

The Austrian EMD doesn’t search for bombs based on anything other than evidence there may in fact be one there.

If you think – or are afraid – there might be a bomb under your property, for example, you have to hire a private survey company to test for it. If they find evidence, they can alert the EMD.

If you do happen to come upon what looks like an unexploded WWII bomb or other munition, you’re advised to keep away from the potential explosive – and keep others away too if you can. Call the police immediately.

Responding officers will then decide whether they need to evacuate the area and call the EMD.

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

‘Haushaltsversicherung’: How does Austria’s home insurance work?

'Haushaltsversicherung' is one of Austria's most popular types of insurance. It is not mandatory, but it is certainly worth evaluating, especially as it comes with many possible add-ons.

Published: 2 May 2024 15:22 CEST
'Haushaltsversicherung': How does Austria's home insurance work?

Austrians are certainly obsessed with insurance coverage, and one of the most popular and common ones is known as the “Haushaltsversicherung”—if you don’t have it already, you have certainly heard of it. Here’s what you need to know about household insurance.

Firstly, this insurance covers damages to “all movable objects within your own four walls,” as Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK) explains. This includes furniture, carpets, and electrical appliances. It would also cover damages caused by fire, storms, water, burglary, and glass breakage. 

Certain types of insurance, such as private liability insurance or mandatory dog liability insurance, are almost always combined with household insurance—another reason why the Haushaltsversicherung is so popular in Austria.

READ ALSO: What kind of insurance do I need to have in Austria?

However, there are enormous differences in premiums and benefits, so experts suggest you check precisely what you need before taking out insurance. The AK also says you should talk to an insurance advisor to learn more about your specific case and needs, particularly if you have any valuables in your home. 

Additionally, they said: “It makes sense to check your policy every few years to ensure that you are properly insured. This guarantees that the sums insured and the risks included are up-to-date and sufficient”.

What should I keep an eye on when reviewing policies?

Of course, different companies have their own offers, and they are often highly customisable to fit your apartment and lifestyle—some things you need to be aware of, though.

Certain policies are tied to the size of your apartment, while others will have a lump sum regardless of the size of your place. Policies also usually differ depending on whether you live in an apartment or a house. 

While most insurance will cover glass breakage (such as when a hail storm breaks your window, for example), some might have it as an add-on (wahlweise mit Glasbruch). 

You may also add other types of insurance to your household insurance, the most common being mandatory dog liability insurance (Hunde-Haftpflicht), legal insurance (Straf-Rechtsschutz), and sports insurance.

READ ALSO: Should I take out insurance before skiing in Austria?

It’s worth it to read each policy, but you should know some common clauses beforehand. For example, insurance often won’t cover burglary costs if your house has not been properly secured and locked. This might seem obvious, but since door knobs don’t open from the outside without the key, people often leave their homes, especially for short errands, and don’t lock the doors all the way. Insurance and safety experts recommend you get in the habit of locking your home doors.

It’s also important to check if your insurance will pay you “Neuwert” or “Zeitwert” in case of damage. 

A Neuwert means the insurance will pay for a replacement object, regardless of how old the stolen or broken one was. However, many insurance policies still contain the so-called “Zeitwert”, something like “current value”, so you wouldn’t receive an amount that could pay for a new product. Instead, a loss of value of around 10 percent per year could be expected for most objects.

What should I do if there is damage to my home?

If you see any damage to your home from burglary, accident or other types, you need to notify your insurer immediately and report the damage you have suffered. 

The insurance conditions usually stipulate a maximum period of three days for reporting a claim in property insurance. The Chamber of Labour also recommends that you send a written notification of the claim (preferably by registered mail, they add).

“Make a list of all items that have been destroyed or lost and enclose it with your report to both the insurer and the security authorities”, they said. And, of course, in the event of fire burglary or robbery, always inform the fire department or police authorities.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: The Austrian insurance for if you get sued – or want to sue someone

How long does the insurance last, and how much does it cost?

The insurance term is usually specified in the counteract. In general, though, you can terminate it after the third year with one month’s notice if the contract has not already expired.

If you move house or move abroad, you can terminate your household insurance contract. You can cancel the insurance the day before the move begins (preferably by registered letter).

If you do not exercise your right of termination, the insurance will remain valid during the move and in the new home.

Regarding prices, they can be as low as a few euros a month (such as insurance specifically tailored to students living in shared flats) to several hundred a month if you have a large place with plenty of valuables or include several add-ons. 

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