Unexploded bombs and munitions from past conflicts continue to pose a threat in Luxembourg, with the country’s explosive ordnance disposal unit regularly called out to neutralise remnants of war – many dating back to World War II. Yet the history of this military service stretches even further back, as 2025 marks its 100th anniversary.
To commemorate the centenary, the National Museum of Military History (MNHM) in Diekirch is publishing a book detailing the unit’s origins and evolution. RTL spoke with Claude Peffer, a retired bomb disposal expert and the lead researcher for the project, who himself served in the unit.
The narrative begins with the French bombing of Luxembourg on 3 August 1914. While German troops handled demining during World War I, their responsibilities were taken over by American and French forces following the war’s end. It was not until 1925 that Luxembourg established its own explosive ordnance disposal unit. The first two men sent for training in Belgium were Lieutenant Jean Joseph Gilson and future gendarme Nicolas Arnould Kaiser, according to Peffer. He further explains that this early effort brought immediate results: civilian casualties dropped sharply, and over 8,000 kilos of munitions were removed between 1925 and 1940.
During the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg (1940-1944), bomb disposal operations were carried out by the Emergency Technical Air Raid Defence Service, staffed largely by Luxembourgers forcibly conscripted into service. Just two days after the initial liberation in September 1944, local bomb disposal efforts resumed.
However, clearance operations were not without setbacks. Following the first liberation in September 1944, efforts were temporarily halted due to the Ardennes Offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, which raged from mid-December 1944 until the end of January 1945. As a result, clearance activities in the Oesling region – one of the hardest-hit areas – had to be postponed until conditions stabilised in April 1945, when a specialised explosive ordnance disposal unit was officially created. A specialised demining commando was set up in April 1945, occasionally using political prisoners to assist. By 1952, the task had formally returned to the national army.
Even today, unexploded bombs are frequently discovered, and Peffer says the situation isn’t likely to improve soon. He notes that in the 1990s, around four tonnes of munitions were cleared annually, a figure that has now doubled. He attributes the increase to construction activity and population growth, explaining that more building projects inevitably lead to more discoveries of old ordnance.
Personal anecdotes enmeshed in history
The upcoming book won’t just recount historical events. It will also highlight personal experiences and anecdotes, drawing from Peffer’s international assignments, some of which were life-threatening. One example Peffer recalls was a narrowly avoided attack in Afghanistan in 2006: scheduled to attend a routine briefing at the Ministry of Defence, he was pulled out at the last minute after a phone call informed him the meeting had been postponed. Ten minutes later, a car bomb exploded at the exact location where he had been waiting.
Despite the risks, Peffer also reflects on more uplifting experiences, such as his time in Azerbaijan, where he was warmly received by the locals. He believes that a more open and curious attitude between people would lead to fewer global conflicts – and less work for bomb disposal units worldwide.
As the book nears completion, Peffer continues to search for archival material, especially photographs and personal testimonies. He conducts interviews himself and plans to credit all contributors in the final publication, unless they prefer to remain anonymous.
For those interested in sharing their testimonies, please contact Claude Peffer by phone (621 358 756) or e-mail (peffercl@pt.lu).
