German Military Faces Major Security Breach After Massive Ammunition Theft

Wed Dec 03 2025 04:53:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A significant amount of ammunition was stolen from a German military transport truck, prompting serious safety concerns and an ongoing investigation.

In a disturbing incident, a shipment of ammunition, including nearly 20,000 rounds, was stolen from a delivery lorry in Burg, Germany. The theft occurred when the driver left the truck unattended in an unguarded parking lot, leading to a police investigation amid concerns over the security of military supplies. Authorities are focusing on the circumstances surrounding the driver's decision to stop in such a location as they assess the implications of this security lapse.

A shipment of German ammunition has been stolen from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg, the country's defence ministry has said.

Officials did not specify how much was taken, but a spokesperson from the news magazine Der Spiegel indicated that it was close to 20,000 rounds.

The theft occurred after the driver for a civilian transport company, contracted by the military, left his truck in an unguarded parking lot overnight on November 25. The following day, upon arrival at the nearby Clausewitz Barracks, the ammunition was discovered missing. An investigation has been launched by the army alongside police.

Reports suggest the shipment contained approximately 10,000 rounds of live ammunition for pistols, 9,900 rounds of blank ammunition for assault rifles, and smoke grenades. There have been no confirmed arrests or identifications related to the incident, raising security concerns about who may have acquired these supplies.

Germany’s defence ministry commented, We take the theft very seriously - this kind of ammunition must not fall into the wrong hands. They noted that part of the investigation will focus on why the driver chose an insecure location for the stop when there are special protocols and a staff escort available for such deliveries.

In recent months, this incident adds to a pattern of similar thefts in the Saxony-Anhalt region, including the reported loss of 90 rounds in Bernburg and 180 rounds in Eisleben earlier this year. Authorities have yet to determine if there's a connection between these cases.