The Kampfmittelräumdienst
We would like to give visitors to the museum the chance to see the work done by the German Weapons Clearing Service, or in German the "Kampfmittelräumdienst". This organisation is part of a country wide initiative. Through out the whole of Germany there are weapons clearing units who act on behalf of the local authorities. As can be seen in the exhibits that follow their work is far from over. Above, one of the group poses for the camera alongside one of the shattered bunkers of the "Westwall". Many of these bunkers, although already shattered by Allied demolition charges during the war are now being removed completely. It may be that during such work that war material is found.
The weapons clearing service does differ in various districts, however typically the personnel involved might be as follows: 1 Chief of weapons removal, 9 ammunition technicians, 2 aerial plotters, 5 ammunition foremen, 13 ammunition workers and 2 civil servants. The description of this groups duties can be broken down as such; Those who are charges with locating ammunition, those who supervise it's destruction - either by controlled explosion or controlled burning, those who work alongside independent clearing companies and those who work with photointerpretation of aerial photographs. Above: What looks like an innocent job of grass cutting, preparation for something far more dangerous.
Whether it is a local farmer who finds something suspicious while ploughing, or someone doing home improvements, digging a new ditch, the Kampfräumitteldienst are never short of work. Above, it appears that local knowledge has once more helped to overt disaster, a hoard of anti-tank shells come to light. In the quiet farm track it seems hard to imagine that once Panzerjäger waited here for their prey. Below is another hoard of shells, mostly American 60mm mortar rounds, as well as two artillery shells and two American rifle grenades. This photo alone might give visitors some idea of the huge job of making Germany a safe place to live in, so many years after the men who originally handled these items have gone.
