A significant security breach has exposed vulnerabilities in the German military’s logistics chain, after approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen from a civilian transport truck. The incident, confirmed by the German Ministry of Defence to “Der Spiegel”, occurred overnight between Monday and Tuesday at a parking area near Burg, Saxony-Anhalt.
The theft was only discovered when the truck driver arrived at a nearby military base to deliver the ammunition. Initial assessments reveal the loss includes roughly 10,000 rounds of pistol ammunition and 9,900 rounds of training ammunition for assault rifles, alongside a quantity of specialized “Nebel” ammunition. While the training rounds are not live ammunition, the theft of pistol ammunition raises serious concerns about potential misuse.
The Ministry of Defence has characterized the event as a “relevant security incident” emphasizing the imperative to prevent such materials from falling into the wrong hands. Critically, the incident highlights a failure by the contracted civilian transport company to adhere to established security protocols for handling sensitive military cargo. Standard practice dictates that the transport company maintains constant vigilance over Bundeswehr shipments.
According to “Der Spiegel”, the truck’s unscheduled overnight stop was a direct contributing factor to the theft. The driver purportedly made a spontaneous decision to lodge at a hotel in Burg, leaving the cargo unattended. This appears to represent a significant lapse in adherence to regulations.
The incident is likely to trigger a review of civilian contractor oversight within the German military, with particular focus on enforcement of transport security protocols and driver accountability. Opposition parties are expected to demand further details and a full parliamentary inquiry into the circumstances of the theft and the adequacy of current security measures. The breach raises uncomfortable questions about the level of trust placed in contracted civilian operations and the potential for systemic failures within the Bundeswehr’s supply chain.
