Enquirer

From: Dirk + Heinz Finkemeier
Date: 25th November 1998
Subject: WW2 MUNA Lübbecke (Espelkamp)

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Request

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Do you have any Information about the Second Word War filling plant called 'Espelkamp'?

It was known as MUNA Lübbecke, and was poison gas plant, which used Arsin-?–l (arsenic oil) from the plant at Ergethan, Sta?Ÿfurt. In 1946 the British Army listed it as one of the dangerous filling plants in Germany.

Could it be, that this has given rise to contamination in this town (Espelkamp). The government says no, but we think, they have not enough information about this filling plant.

Currently there is some discussion about so called 'Rüstungsaltlasten' (contamination caused by military facilities) which is an initiative from the 'BUND' (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz - an organisation dealing with the environment and nature reserves).

If you have any information about the connection between Ergethan, Sta?Ÿfurt and the filling plant Espelkamp" let us know.

For your information, the official version is, that this plant had never been in operation. However we have lived in the filling plant area, since 1960, and we wonder, why so many of our neighbours have died, after being ill many years.

We want to know the truth.

Greetings from Germany !

Dirk + Heinz Finkemeier

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Dear Dirk + Heinz

I am afraid that I do not have any information on MUNA Lübbecke, which is in Nord Rhein Westphalen (NRW). However I have forwarded your enquiry to Dr Claus Schumacher (who together with me wrote the case study on Ergethan Mustard gas factory)

He told me that the State of Niedersachsen has done alot of work in compiling a list of Rustungsaltlasten, and that your best bet would be to approach the Umweltschutz people in NRW and ask for a list of MUNA sites.

Because MUNA Lübbecke (Espelkamp) is near to Hannover, I have also forwarded your enquiry to Dr Rainer Gellermann, who runs an Environmental consultancy called HGN, and asked him if he can help you.

Michael Brooks has contributed a brief summary about the toxicity of Arsenic in a posting covering the remediation of sites contaminated with Copper Chrome Arsenate. This may give you a feel for planned EEC limits (which will be 10 ppb as of 2003).

cheers

Micky

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Dear Dirk + Heinz

According to a document in the Public Record Offices at Kew, London, in 1945 when the Allies (21 Army Group) over-ran the MUNA at Lübbecke (Espelkamp) they found:-

1. some 503,000 rounds of green ring, white ring, yellow ring, and blue ring munitions including 75mm, 105mm, 150mm, 350 and 400mm rounds, 10cm mortar bombs, and mines. These munitions were both German and Italian.

2. there were also large stocks of white ring shells in the process of being filled - so there was a filling station there.

3. a train (18 waggons long) loaded with green ring / yellow ring munitions was also found at the site.

4. 46 out of 107 sheds contained, or had previously contained, Chemical Warfare armaments.

1. White Cross - affecting the eyes e.g. Tear Gas
2. Yellow Cross - affecting the skin e.g. Mustard Gas
3. Blue Cross - affecting the Nasal passages e.g. Clark 1
4. Green Cross - affecting the lungs e.g. Phosgene
5. Nerve gas - affecting the nervous system e.g. Tabun

Tchuss

Micky