In the past year, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (EMD) of the Austrian Armed Forces was deployed 995 times to recover, transport, and destroy war relics in Austria. This involved a total of 34,687.30 kilograms of various types of war materials; with this amount of explosive, up to 100 high-rise buildings with 20 floors could be safely demolished. For example, the specialists of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service destroyed 65 submunitions, 31 anti-personnel mines, and 44 bombs unexploded ordnance weighing over 50 kilograms. 

"The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Austrian Armed Forces contributes daily to the safety in Austria. The numbers show that the end of discoveries of war relics is far from over. I would like to express my thanks to the EOD experts for their dedication," said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. 

Challenging operational areas 

The operational areas of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service are diverse: water, alpine terrain, forests, and urban areas are part of it. The diving group of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service recovered 571.5 kilograms of war materials from waters; in high alpine terrain, 146 kilograms of ammunition and war materials were recovered and destroyed. To reach these areas, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service covered 280,585 kilometers - equivalent to approximately seven circumnavigations of the Earth. 

Destruction and disposal of war material 

The EMD destroyed 14.91 tons of recovered war materials through controlled detonations at Bundesheer firing ranges. Approximately 4.8 tons of infantry ammunition were incinerated in a special kiln and the resulting ammunition scrap was recycled. Approximately 6.57 tons of war scrap were taken directly to final disposal. Particularly challenging for the specialists was encountering 47 instances of unsafe handling ammunition. This ammunition was not transportable and had to be destroyed by controlled detonation on-site, outside of Bundesheer firing ranges. In doing so, 422.90 kilograms of war material were rendered harmless. All detonations were carried out without material or personal damage. 

Operational areas 

The density of operations was highest in Lower Austria in 2024. There, 14.03 tons of war materials were disposed of in 462 operations. Behind that is Styria with 9.39 tons in 129 operations, followed by Vienna with 5.81 tons in 56 operations. In Upper Austria, 2.23 tons were neutralized in 107 operations, in Carinthia 1,553.37 kilograms in 84 operations, and in Burgenland, 914.17 kilograms were rendered harmless in 81 operations. Tyrol with 621.20 kilograms in 43 operations, Salzburg with approximately 70 kilograms in 19 operations, and Vorarlberg with 13 operations and 80.43 kilograms of recovered and destroyed war material form the bottom of the list. 

What to do with a suspicious object? 

Handling ammunition and explosives is extremely dangerous for unauthorized individuals. If an object is found whose origin and nature seem suspicious, one should keep a distance, prevent people or animals from approaching the find, and immediately contact the nearest police station. Subsequently, the employees of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Austrian Armed Forces are requested, who will defuse and safely transport the war relic. 

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service 

The employees of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service are experts in all types of ammunition dating back to before 1955 and found on Austrian federal territory. The EMD was transferred as an independent unit from the Federal Ministry of the Interior to the Federal Ministry of Defense on January 1, 2013. Due to its offices in Vienna, Graz, and Linz-Hörsching, as well as a 24-hour standby service, the EOD specialists can be on-site within a short period to examine suspicious objects and eliminate hazards from past wars. 

Proper behavior in the event of suspicious finds 

Many people have been harmed due to careless handling of found ammunition. If you come across an object that seems suspicious in its origin and nature, please follow these points:

• Keep a distance and prevent others from approaching the find.
• Contact the nearest police station.

BUNDESHEER online