Report a Bomb or Unexploded Ordnance
Even decades after the end of the Second World War, there are still many unexploded ordnance and munitions lying undiscovered underground. Weathering, chemical decomposition, corrosion or deformation as a result of an impact significantly increase the sensitivity and therefore the danger of found munitions / ordnance.
-
Basic information
If a private individual, company or official institution wishes to carry out construction work on the property, there is an obligation to apply for an inspection of the property. Military explosives can remain effective almost indefinitely. In addition, safety elements may have been rendered ineffective by launching or dropping. A change of position, mechanical impact or even picking up an explosive ordnance can trigger a detonation. There is therefore a danger to life when handling explosive ordnance / found ammunition.
Requirements
- Request for an Inspection of the Property
- Ensuring, to the best of its ability, that explosive ordnance is cleared so that civil engineering work can be carried out safely during construction projects
- In areas classified as “suspected sites” where excavation work is to be carried out (this may also apply to demolition projects!) or where backfilling or sealing of the ground is planned, there is an obligation to have these areas inspected. Only the police are authorized to classify areas as “suspected sites.”
These inquiries are required by law.
-
Procedure
- If you happen to find a bomb or unexploded ordnance in the city of Bremen, report it immediately to the Bremen Police Command Center by calling 110.
- For requests to inspect building lots for the presence of bombs or unexploded ordnance:
- Fill out the application form.
- Enclose the required documents.
- Send the application and the documents by mail or email to the appropriate office
- You will find the address directly on the application form.
More information
Fines of up to €20,000 are provided for in the event of non-compliance with the requirements of the law.
-
Necessary Documents
- Completed application form, plus
- Overview Map (Scale 1:5,000 or 1:2,500)
- Simple site plan
- Completed application form, plus
-
Fees / Costs
If, for example, a grenade is accidentally found in the garden of a plot of land, it will be removed free of charge for the landowner. This also includes the destruction of the explosive ordnance (so-called accidental finds).
If a commercial explosive ordnance disposal company searches a plot of land intended for the construction of a single-family home and discovers and recovers an explosive device, the owner is responsible for the costs of the work involved in removing the device.
The costs for defusing, if necessary for detonation, as well as for the destruction and removal of the explosive ordnance are borne by the state of Bremen. These measures are part of the state's hazard prevention duties. -
Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
There are no deadlines.
How long does it take to process
4 weeks bis 6 weeks Depending on the volume of applications, processing an application usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
Frequently asked Questions
-
What are explosive ordnance?
- Bodies containing a powder, primer or explosive charge,
- Bodies containing a propelling, detonating, incendiary, smoke, illuminating, signaling, or light-tracking charge,
- Projectiles terminated or discharged from small arms, launchers, guns, slides, terminating or dropping devices,
- Ignition devices designed to detonate explosive, propelling, and expelling charges or fragmentation charges,
- Proof ammunition, practice ammunition and drill ammunition of any kind,
- Fragments and substantial parts of the aforementioned bodies and projectiles or of their contents,
- Military objects intended for warfare and which have become uncustodial.
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct. 04.08.2026