Contamination and Impact

The Federal Republic of Germany is contaminated with cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) at a former Soviet military training range at Wittstock, Brandenburg (in former East Germany) dating from the period of the area’s use by Soviet and Russian armed forces. In August 2014, Germany reported that an area of 11km² was suspected to contain single Soviet-era ShOAB 0.5 submunitions—almost three times the area than previously reported (4km²).[1] The contamination by UXO has been described as “extensive.”[2]

In June 2011, Germany reported that contamination at Wittstock was suspected to include antipersonnel landmines.[3] In December 2013, Germany reported that “the suspicion of there being anti-personnel mines present has not been substantiated.”[4]

Mines

Germany first reported its suspicion that it might be contaminated with antipersonnel mines covering an area of 125km² in June 2011 at the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on Mine Clearance.[5] In 2012, Germany reported that the suspected contaminated area was approximately 10,000m² and located in the northeast of the property.[6] Germany had previously declared in its Article 7 reports covering the years prior to 2011 that there were no confirmed or suspected mined areas under its jurisdiction or control.[7]

Following a combination of non-technical and technical survey, in addition to clearance activities, Germany reported the following December that “The area is no longer seen as a suspected APM [antipersonnel mine] area.”[8]

Cluster munitions remnants

Germany is also contaminated with cluster munition remnants. In its initial Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 report, Germany had declared no confirmed or suspected cluster munition contaminated areas.[9] In June 2011 at the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee meetings, however, Germany declared for the first time that it suspected it had areas containing cluster munition remnants at the former Soviet military training range at Wittstock in Brandenburg.[10] It repeated the information at the Convention on Cluster Munitions intersessional meeting a week later, noting that the remnants were “principally found within the confines of a target range” located at the south of the training area.

At the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Cluster Munitions Convention in September 2012, Germany reported that the suspected hazardous area (SHA) was some 4km² in size and located in the eastern center of the training area.[11] Germany reported the suspected contamination in its second Article 7 report submitted in 2013 and indicated that survey of the area was ongoing.[12]

In its Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 report of April 2014, Germany reiterated that suspected cluster munitions contamination covered an estimated 4km².[13] However, in August 2014 Germany reported to the Monitor that, at 11km², the area suspected of contamination was considerably higher than the previously reported 4km², despite stating that “archive research” had “narrowed down the suspected area.”[14]

Mine Action Program

In early October 2011, ownership of the Wittstock former training range was transferred from the military to the governmental authority in charge of real estate—Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben (BImA).

As the new owner, the BImA developed a mine risk program in collaboration with local authorities which began implementation in 2012 and was focused on a “danger prevention plan” that was a described as a “crucial prerequisite” for further technical survey of the area.[15] Activities included risk reduction measures such as marking the perimeter and preventing civilian access to the area, instigation of a risk education program, and development of a strategic action concept designed to “create the necessary infrastructure for further targeted survey.”[16]

The program included plans for an initial survey of access routes, areas of suspected UXO contamination in neighboring locations, and necessary firebreaks using geomagnetic survey methods as a first step towards allowing construction of infrastructure it considered would be required for clearance personnel to safely clear the affected areas. Technical survey and clearance would be undertaken, if necessary, to clear the area in preparation for infrastructure construction, after which clearance of the remaining SHA could be undertaken.[17] The cost of clearance would be met by the BImA.

Once cleared, the site was planned to remain part of a “nature protection area” in the Kyritz-Ruppiner-Heide, managed by the BImA as part of the Europa NATURA 2000 network.[18]

Survey in 2013

Germany reported that initial survey activities of the areas suspected of mine contamination had commenced in March 2013.[19] Following a combination of non-technical and technical survey, as well as physical clearance, no contamination was found and the area was reported free of mines in December 2013.[20]

At the Convention on Cluster Munitions Working Group on Clearance and Risk Reduction intersessional meetings in April 2012, Germany announced plans to conduct technical survey and, if necessary, some clearance during 2012 of a 40km-long and 50-meter-wide tract of land to ensure fire prevention and environment protection; during the same period it would also clear a network of paths and tracks to enable emergency management.[21] In April 2013, Germany reported a technical survey of the SHA was ongoing.[22] By August 2014, it was stated that preparations for a “technical investigation” were underway to survey and, if necessary, clear any cluster munition remnants. Technical survey of the first section of suspected area was envisaged to begin in 2015.[23]

Article 5 Compliance

Germany’s original deadline for destroying all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control would have been 1 March 1999 had Germany been aware of the contaminated area.

In April 2013—under the new procedure established for States Parties finding new mined areas after their initial clearance deadline had passed—Germany submitted an Article 5 deadline Extension Request until 31 December 2015, citing the need to conduct survey and the late identification of the affected area as reasons why clearance could not be completed prior to the Thirteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in December 2013.[24]

Following the results of its survey and clearance activities in 2013, Germany withdrew its deadline request in November 2013.[25] As no mine contamination had been found, a clearance deadline was unnecessary.

Compliance with Article 4 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Under Article 4 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Germany is required to destroy all cluster munition remnants in areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 August 2020.

Germany has not yet reported the clearance of any cluster munition remnants. Germany has reported that a “technical investigation” is currently under preparation and expected to commence in 2015.[26]