Article 4 deadline: 1 August 2020
(Unclear whether on track to meet deadline)
Program Performance: AVERAGE[1] 

Recommendations

• Germany should be more transparent in detailing the plan, timeline, and activities for release of the area.

Contamination

Germany has 11km² of land suspected to contain cluster munition remnants at a former Soviet military training area at Wittstock, Brandenburg, in the former East Germany.[2] Soviet-era ShOAB-0.5 submunitions remain from testing of the weapon in 1952–1993.[3] The area is also contaminated by other unexploded ordinance (UXO).[4]

From 2011 to early 2014, suspected cluster munition contamination was reported to total 4km².[5] In August 2014, however, Germany reported to the CMC that the area suspected as contaminated was 11km².[6] 

Program Management

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

Beginning in 2012, the BImA implemented a risk education program in collaboration with local authorities based on a “danger prevention plan.” The plan was described as a “crucial prerequisite” for further technical survey of the area.[7] The area is completely perimeter marked with warning signs, and an official directive, effective 1 July 2011, has been issued by the responsible regulatory and supervisor authority, constraining access to the area.[8] The cost of any clearance will be covered by the BImA. In 2013, Germany reported that, once safely released, the site is due 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.[9]

Land Release

No land contaminated by cluster munition remnants was released by clearance or technical survey in 2014.[10]

Survey in 2014

In April 2012, Germany announced plans to conduct technical survey and, if necessary, clearance during 2012 of a 40km-long, 50-metre-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.[11] By August 2014, however, it was stated only that preparations for a “technical investigation” were “underway.”[12] In June 2015, Germany confirmed that technical survey was underway.[13]

Clearance in 2014 

Germany has not reported clearance of any cluster munition remnants. 

Article 4 Compliance

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. It is unclear whether it is on track to meet the deadline.