DEMINETEC in Berlin

DEMINETEC operates in Berlin

DEMINETEC, a French company headquartered in La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), delivers civilian demining (pyrotechnic clearance) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management services to public and private clients in Berlin, Germany. We cover the full chain from historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT) to ordnance neutralisation and disposal, in line with French Decree 2005-1325 and international best practice.

Pyrotechnic historical context of Berlin

Berlin carries one of the heaviest unexploded-ordnance burdens in Europe. Between 1940 and 1945 the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces dropped over 45,000 tonnes of bombs on the Reich capital, compounded by Soviet artillery during the Battle of Berlin in April-May 1945. Estimates suggest that up to 15% of all dropped bombs failed to detonate and remain in the subsoil.

The Berlin Kampfmittelräumdienst (KMRD) handles hundreds of suspect sites each year — from major construction projects such as Tempelhofer Feld, Mediaspree, Europacity and the former Tegel airport, to U-Bahn and S-Bahn extensions. Hotspots cluster around the former Borsig (Tegel), Henschel (Schönefeld) armaments plants and Reichsbahn repair works.

These are layered with Soviet munitions, German demolition charges and chemical-warfare residues from abandoned Wehrmacht and NVA depots. For any deep excavation in Berlin, a pyrotechnic historical study and a magnetometric survey, in line with Brandenburg and Berlin authority requirements, are effectively indispensable.

Our services in Berlin

Historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT)

Document research in national and foreign archives to qualify pyrotechnic risk on a site (bombings, combat, depots, ranges).

Pyrotechnic safety study (ESP)

Residual risk assessment, definition of effect zones, safety perimeters and collective protective measures.

Magnetometric geophysical survey

On-site detection of ferromagnetic anomalies, surface or deep, onshore or underwater.

UXO clearance

Extraction, identification and neutralisation / disposal of munitions by our NEDEX / EOD-qualified operators.

Underwater expertise

Survey and clearance in ports, rivers and offshore environments, in partnership with our group company SEMTEC.

Why choose DEMINETEC for Berlin?

French licensed company, ISO 9001 and MASE certified, compliant with French Decree 2005-1325.
Teams of former French Navy and Army EOD operators (NEDEX / EOD qualifications).
Over 30 years of accumulated experience in France and on international projects.
Onshore and underwater intervention capacity through the DEMINETEC group (SEMTEC, GEODE, DEMINETEC ECG).
Quick response: quote within 48 hours, rapid mobilisation in France and abroad.

War history and explosive contamination in Berlin

During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces dropped 2.7 million tonnes of bombs on Europe. Germany continues to record an estimated 2,000 tons of Second World War munitions every year. Buried bombs, mortars, land mines and grenades are frequently found during construction, excavation or agricultural work. In Berlin alone, 1.8 million pieces of ordnance were defused between 1947 and 2018, demonstrating the long-term clearance requirement created by wartime bombing and the burial of explosive items.

Berlin incidents documented from 1994 onward include a bomb explosion at a Friedrichshain building site in September 1994, which damaged many houses and killed three people. In April 2018, a bomb found north of Berlin Hauptbahnhof led to the evacuation of 12,000 people. A 500-kilogram bomb discovered in Neukölln in October 2020 required the evacuation of 10,000 office workers and 15 residents. Further evacuations followed discoveries near Berlin Hauptbahnhof, in Friedrichshain, Zehlendorf, the Spree River near Mitte and Spandau. In September 2025, two unexploded World War II-era ordnances in Berlin led to orders for around 10,000 people to evacuate.

Areas and structures concerned

Friedrichshain building sites and community garden
Berlin Hauptbahnhof and the area immediately north of the station
Neukölln
Zehlendorf
Spree River near Mitte
Spandau

Expected ordnance and implications for survey

The documented ordnance includes unexploded aerial bombs weighing 250, 500 and 1,100 kilograms, as well as bombs of unspecified weight. The Berlin incidents include unexploded aerial bombs, World War II bombs and World War II-era unexploded ordnance. Across Germany, the reported explosive inventory also includes mortars, land mines and grenades. Discoveries occurred during construction, demolition, sewer maintenance, excavation, river-related activity and agricultural work, supporting the need to consider buried ordnance during intrusive works and to establish appropriate clearance or disposal measures.

FAQ: explosive risk in Berlin

How extensive is the recorded unexploded-ordnance problem in Berlin?

In Berlin alone, 1.8 million pieces of ordnance were defused between 1947 and 2018. The city also recorded later discoveries, including bombs in Friedrichshain, Neukölln, Zehlendorf, near Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the Spree River near Mitte and Spandau. These incidents required evacuations ranging from hundreds of residents to around 15,000 people.

Where have unexploded World War II bombs been found in Berlin?

Recorded locations include a building site in Friedrichshain, an area north of Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Neukölln, a community garden southeast of Berlin’s A115 autobahn, Zehlendorf, the Spree River near Mitte and Spandau. The discoveries occurred during construction, demolition, excavation and other works, as well as in the river.

Reference : Wikipédia — World War II bomb disposal in Europe

Territorial coverage

DEMINETEC operates in Berlin and across Germany from our French head office (285 avenue Marcel Paul, 83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, France). We mobilise teams and technical assets to fit each mission: documentary studies, short field surveys, or long-duration clearance operations.

Frequently asked questions about UXO clearance in Berlin

Which munitions are typically found?

In Berlin and across Germany, the most frequently recovered items include artillery shells, hand grenades, landmines, aerial bombs and — in coastal areas — naval mines. Exact typology depends on the site history and is the focus of the prior historical desk study (EHT).

Does French Decree 2005-1325 apply abroad?

French Decree 2005-1325 governs civilian pyrotechnic clearance on French soil. Internationally, DEMINETEC uses it as a best-practice benchmark alongside IMAS (International Mine Action Standards) and the contractual requirements specific to Germany.

How long does a mission in Berlin typically last?

Duration varies with surface area, investigation depth and anomaly density. An EHT desk study takes 2-6 weeks, a magnetometric survey from a few days to several months, and active clearance from a few weeks up to multiple years for major projects.

Do you operate underwater?

Yes. Through our subsidiary SEMTEC and the DEMINETEC group, we provide commercial diving, underwater magnetometry and submerged-ordnance neutralisation for ports, rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

Contact DEMINETEC for Berlin

For any historical study, diagnostic or pyrotechnic clearance request, contact our teams:

DEMINETEC SAS
285 avenue Marcel Paul
83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, FRANCE
Tél: +33 (0)9 52 51 00 63
Email: contact@deminetec.com