Armed forces of the world
German Armed Forces
One of the main goals of creating the NATO bloc in 1949 was control over Germany, at that time only Western Germany. At the same time, Germany found itself on the potential front line, and on the main direction of the failed military strike Warsaw Pact. Therefore, the Bundeswehr became the main striking force of NATO in Europe, in addition, powerful contingents of the US, British, French, Canadian, Dutch, and Belgian armed forces were stationed on German territory. These forces were combined into two army groups of ground forces and two air armies.
After the unification of Germany in 1990, the Bundeswehr achieved enormous combat power - 7 thousand tanks, 8.9 thousand infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 4.6 thousand guns, mortars and MLRS, 1 thousand combat aircraft. In addition, on German territory there were 5.9 thousand American tanks, 5.7 thousand infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 2.6 thousand artillery systems, and more than 300 aircraft. Other NATO countries had up to 1.5 thousand tanks, the same number of infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, and at least 500 artillery systems.
All this is in the distant past. Army groups and air armies were disbanded. The French, Dutch, Belgians and Canadians left Germany long ago. In 2015, the British contingent also left.
Today the composition of the German Armed Forces is as follows.
Ground forces include 3 divisions and a number of other units and subunits. This is the 1st tank division(headquarters in Oldenburg) (it includes the 9th (Munster) and 21st (Augustdorf) tank brigades, the 41st (Neubrandenburg) motorized infantry brigade, as well as the 43rd mechanized brigade of the Dutch Armed Forces), 10th Panzer Division (Veitshöchheim) (12th Panzer (Amberg), 23rd Mountain Infantry (Bad Reichenhall), 37th Motorized Infantry (Frankenberg) Brigade, as well as the 4th RSF Brigade of the Czech Armed Forces) and RRF Division (Stadtallendorf) (1 -I airborne brigade(Saarlius), MTR command, 36th combat helicopter regiment, 10th and 30th transport helicopter regiments, as well as the 11th airborne brigade of the Dutch Armed Forces and the 81st mechanized brigade of the Romanian Armed Forces).
The tank fleet includes 241 Leopard-2 (221 A6, 20 A7). In addition, 380 Leopard-2A4/A5 and 191 Leopard-1 are in storage.
There are 170 Fenech armored vehicles, 65 Dingo-2A3.2.
The number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles has been reduced to 778, they should be replaced by approximately 400 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, now there are 26.
Armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles are becoming the dominant class of armored vehicles in the German army. Today the Bundeswehr has 359 TpZ-1 Fuchs, 144 Boxer (there will be 256 in total; there are also 137 auxiliary vehicles based on this armored personnel carrier), 100 Wiesel (it is, however, sometimes classified as a BMD), 537 Dingo ", incl. 137 "Dingo-1" and 400 "Dingo-2" (as well as 73 ARVs based on it), 76 Swedish BV206S (and at least 111 auxiliary vehicles based on this armored personnel carrier), 629 Swiss "Eagles" (and 20 auxiliary vehicles) .
Artillery includes 129 PzH2000 self-propelled guns (up to 20 more in storage), 119 self-propelled 120-mm Tampella mortars and 59 MLRS MLRS. 2 old M109 self-propelled guns and 10 M101 towed guns remain in service.
It is armed with 311 of the latest Israeli Spike-LR ATGMs and 113 Tou self-propelled ATGMs on the Wiesel chassis.
Military air defense includes 50 Ocelot air defense systems, also known as ASRAD (these are 4 Stinger MANPADS on the Wiesel chassis), and 865 Stinger MANPADS in the “original” portable version.
Army aviation has 59 UHT Tiger attack helicopters (5 more in storage), up to 129 multi-role UH-1D (up to 70 more in storage), 19 EC-135, 62 newest NH-90 (1 more in storage; total should be 82). Up to 196 Vo-105 multi-purpose helicopters are in storage.
In addition to the listed equipment, up to 2247 M113 armored personnel carriers, up to 39 M109 self-propelled guns, up to 134 M101 guns and up to 177 FH-70 guns, up to 100 MLRS MLRS, up to 87 Roland air defense systems, up to 340 Gepard self-propelled guns can be stored in storage. All this equipment is no longer on the aircraft’s balance sheet; it is intended for disposal, disassembly for spare parts and sale abroad.
Air Force Germany (Luftwaffe) includes Operational Command and Central Command (both located in Cologne). The Operational Command has 6 tactical air wings (31st, 33rd, 51st, 71st, 73rd, 74th), 3 transport air wings (61st, 62nd, 63rd) , 64th Helicopter Wing, 1st Air Defense Wing.
The basis of the Luftwaffe's combat power is the European (German-English-Spanish-Italian) Typhoon fighter-bombers. According to the initial plans of 1986, the German Air Force intended to purchase 250 Typhoons; in 1998, this plan was reduced to 180 aircraft, in 2003 - to 143. Today, 139 Typhoons have been delivered (including 31 training combat). Up to 111 Tornado bombers remain in service, up to 28 more are in storage in Germany itself, 1 is in storage in the USA at the Davis-Monthan base. There are up to 41 old F-4F fighters in storage (up to 26 in Germany, 15 in the USA), but they will be scrapped. The Büchel Air Base houses 20 American B-61 nuclear bombs, which in the event of war will be used by Tornado aircraft of the German Air Force itself.
Transport aviation includes 28 newest A400M, 2 A319, 1 A321, 2 A340, 6 A310 (including 4 tankers), 56 S-160 (up to 9 more in storage), 4 Global Express 5000, as well as 88 helicopters - 85 CH-53G (up to 5 more in storage), 3 AS532. Aviation training The Luftwaffe does not; pilots are trained in the USA on American training aircraft.
Ground-based air defense includes 20 batteries of Patriot air defense systems (8 launchers in each, 4 missiles per launcher). There are also 2 reserve and 2 training batteries of the same air defense system.
Navy Germany (Bundesmarine) has less than 50 combat units. Submarine fleet includes 6 submarines of Project 212, which became the first submarines in the world with VNEU. In addition, there are 3 decommissioned submarines of Project 206 in storage. There are 10 frigates - 3 new Sachsen type and 1 Baden-Württemberg type, 4 modern Brandenburg type and 2 old Bremen type (4 more ships of this type withdrawn from the Navy). In addition, the Bundesmarine has 5 Braunschweig-class corvettes and 12 minesweepers (10 Project 332, 2 Project 352 (2 more in storage, 1 is used as a stationary training ship); 5 Project 333 in storage). There are 9 Gepard-class missile boats in storage.
Naval aviation includes 8 P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, 3 Do-228 patrol aircraft, 42 helicopters (20 Sea King (1 more in storage), 22 Super Lynx). It is planned to purchase 18 NH90 helicopters.
As was said at the beginning of the article, the group foreign troops in Germany has decreased radically over the past 20 years. It now includes the British 20th Motorized Infantry Brigade and the remnants of the American contingent. The US 7th Field Army (headquarters in Wiesbaden) includes the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (equivalent to the Stryker brigade), the 12th Army Aviation Brigade, the 41st Artillery Brigade, the 7th Air Defense Regiment, 16 1st support brigade, 405th and 409th support brigades, 598th transport brigade, 30th medical brigade, 18th military police brigade, 66th reconnaissance brigade, 2nd communications brigade.
The 3rd Air Force of the US Air Force (Ramstein) includes the 52nd air wing (Spangdahlem) with F-16 fighters and the 86th air wing (Ramstein) with transport aircraft C-130, C-20, C-21A, C-37A.
In general, having decreased by several times or even orders of magnitude over two decades in all classes of military equipment, the Bundeswehr remains one of the largest European armies, since the rest have decreased almost as radically. However, the German army is no longer the main striking force of NATO in Europe. This definition is no longer applicable in principle to current European armies.
Even the freest democracy needs armed protection. This argument formed the basis for the creation of the Bundeswehr in 1956. Its tasks from the very beginning were limited exclusively to defense. Considering German history, when creating the Bundeswehr, the emphasis was on a soldier with new qualities, a soldier not in war, but in guarding peace. “Be able to fight so that you don’t have to fight,” - this was and remains the motto of the Bundeswehr. Until 2011, the Bundeswehr was recruited through conscription for active service. Conscription service in Germany was compulsory for all adult citizens of the country.
Logo of the German Armed Forces
With the introduction of universal conscription in 1956, legislation gave the Bundeswehr the definition of “the legitimate child of democracy.” The Bundeswehr took into account the situation of young people with work or study as much as possible. They tried to call up graduates of gymnasiums and technical schools immediately after finishing school, so that their demobilization would occur in a year just at the beginning of their studies at the university. Persons liable for military service could be called up to serve in the armed forces, the federal border guard and one of the civil defense services. Military service lasted 12 months. Alternative service was also possible. Each conscript had the right, for moral reasons, to refuse to serve with arms in hand. Then, as a rule, he had to serve alternative service, for example, caring for the sick and elderly in a social institution. Alternative service replaced military service and lasted 15 months.
The command and combat effectiveness of a highly technical army, recruited through conscription for active service, also required a large proportion of contract military personnel. Those who wished could remain in long-term service from two to 15 years. Most usually initially preferred a four-year contract. During their service as an officer, non-commissioned officer or private, conscripts acquired a specialty. Instead of monetary allowance, they received a salary, which increased with each increase in rank. After demobilization, long-term service members received cash benefits for transition period. The opportunity to acquire qualified specialties made long-term service more attractive; however, they presupposed long-term contracts. The Bundeswehr had 65 thousand full-time positions for career military personnel. The latter served as commanders, educators, teachers, carried out planned and organizational tasks, and were highly qualified specialists, for example, jet pilots. In the Bundeswehr, no one started out as a career soldier. Only after serving sufficiently and having proven himself in practice as a capable commander or specialist could a soldier receive a full-time position.
In the first three months of service, during general training, recruits lived in the barracks on weekdays. The service began at seven in the morning and ended at 16:00. 45 min. Before lights out, that is. until 22 o'clock, a soldier in civilian clothes or in uniform could leave the barracks and study in free time whatever he wants. Most soldiers visited their family or girlfriend in their free time. On the weekends, almost everyone went home or to their girlfriend, unless they were assigned to a detachment or guard duty, which, as a rule, happened every four weeks. For soldiers who lived near the barracks in their own apartment or with their parents, after general training there was no longer a “lights out”. They could spend the night at home and had to report for duty again the next day at seven in the morning. The number of soldiers spending the night at home reached 50-60 percent per barracks, and in big cities often 70 percent.
Military duty ended upon leaving active service. Professional soldiers served in the armed forces all their lives in command and other positions that required special, usually technical education. Former career military personnel under the age of 65, and officers and non-commissioned officers in the reserve under the age of 60, could be called back into the Bundeswehr at any time.
After completing general training, conscripts had the opportunity to go to school. On a voluntary basis and outside of work hours, they could attend numerous vocational training courses. Courses from Bundeswehr schools and the Vocational Training Assistance Service were free. The state could pay extra for studying at courses outside the Bundeswehr. For many conscripts, the Bundeswehr was a springboard into a prosperous working life. They could acquire a civilian qualification at a Bundeswehr school or catch up with all types of secondary education at the Vocational Education Assistance Service and learn a profession. The possibilities were very varied. In the army you could learn a trade or acquire a university degree. The Bundeswehr provided officers with the opportunity to train in regular departments civilian universities. The state paid for education up to a certain limit.
Long-term conscripts had a wide choice of opportunities for advanced training. About 100 thousand conscripts a year studied during their free time from service in acquisition or advanced training courses. Approximately 25 thousand soldiers a year successfully passed the final exam in one of the recognized specialties. The Bundeswehr, in addition, provided demobilizing soldiers with all possible support in finding employment. He financed part of the salary for the new employer former soldier, if he first needed to acquire labor skills on-the-job. The transition to civilian life was also facilitated by financial benefits. When transferred to the reserve after a long period of service, a serviceman received 75 percent of his last pay per month for a maximum of 36 months. And the salary of a long-term employee is very decent. After a few years of service, he received approximately as much as a craftsman.
Those liable for military service in all branches of the military were socially insured. The conscripts received allowances, including expenses for trips to their families. In addition, they received a stipend, the amount of which depended on military rank. But with this money the soldier could not support his family and pay for the apartment. He was protected from a difficult situation by the law on ensuring maintenance (of the family) while performing military duty. Breadwinners called to active service received financial assistance. Single conscripts, in order to retain their own apartment during service, were entitled to an allowance to cover rental costs. If a soldier was privately insured before conscription, insurance premiums were paid for him. If he was working when he was called, workplace by law it remained with him until the end of his service life. The state paid contributions for all conscripts various types insurance.
Soldiers' rights
A non-commissioned officer forces a new recruit to clean his boots because the latter saluted incorrectly? In the Bundeswehr such things were completely excluded. Any soldier who felt he was being treated unfairly could take simple and effective steps in his own defense without fear of trouble. He could write a report to his immediate superior or send a complaint to service supervision. Each case must be considered. If this did not happen, those responsible were threatened with serious penalties. Parliament, in addition, established special institutions that monitored the observance of the rights of soldiers and persons in alternative service. This is the Commissioner of the German Bundestag for the Bundeswehr and the Federal Commissioner for Alternative Service.
The soldier who contacted the authorized representative should not have had any problems. Commanders who violated this law were considered to have committed a criminal offense. Law teachers and consultants worked with army commanders. They helped maintain the primacy of law and law in internal order Bundeswehr. Each soldier could appeal to the disciplinary courts of first instance and to the highest military disciplinary courts of the Federal Administrative Court with a request to instruct independent judges to check the legality of all measures of their commanders. This included disciplinary measures.
Women in uniform
The Basic Law prohibited women from serving with weapons in their hands. But there were 260 women in the health service. They served as officers in the Bundeswehr as doctors, pharmacists and veterinarians. Women, in addition, could serve in military bands of the Bundeswehr.
Since 2001, all restrictions on service for women have been lifted. Transition to a professional army
In 1994, the strength of the Bundeswehr was reduced from 470 thousand people to 370 thousand. This was the beginning of the transition to a professional army.
Since July 2011, there is no compulsory conscription into the German army. The Bundeswehr has made the transition to a fully professional army.
Operation Dragonfly
Yugoslavia (Kosovo) (1999)
Afghanistan (2001-2014)
War in Afghanistan (since 2015)
Military operation against the Islamic State
Intervention in Syria
Story
| History of the German Army | |
|---|---|
| Army of the East Frankish Kingdom | |
| Army of the German Kingdom | |
| Imperial Army | |
| German Federal Army | |
| Saxon army | |
| Württemberg Army | |
| Bavarian Army | |
| Prussian army | |
| Reichsheer | |
| Reichswehr | |
| Wehrmacht | |
| SS troops | |
| Volksarmee | |
| Bundeswehr | |
The Bundeswehr was created ten years after the end of World War II, on June 7, 1955. On that day, the German Ministry of Defense was inaugurated. The first 100 volunteers of the new German army in Bonn on November 12 swore allegiance to the fatherland in accordance with the traditions and ritual of the “old German army”. However, the name “Bundeswehr” appeared only in 1956.
The founding of the German army was preceded by the signing of agreements in Paris in 1954, according to which the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany was abolished occupation regime, its state sovereignty was restored. Germany was admitted to NATO. The cabinet of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer adopted a new constitutional concept for an army under parliamentary control. The country's Basic Law enshrined a ban on the use of the army outside Germany. Until 1957, the Bundeswehr was recruited, but in 1957 compulsory conscription was introduced. military service.
For the first 40 years after its creation, the Bundeswehr, in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany, did not participate in combat operations. Only in the mid-1990s did the situation change. On July 12, 1994, the German Constitutional Court decided to repeal the 1982 amendment to Chapter 24 of the Basic Law, which prohibited the participation of the Bundeswehr in military operations abroad. The decision of the Constitutional Court removed any “constitutional objections” to German participation in UN-sanctioned peacekeeping operations. German military personnel began to be involved in peacekeeping operations abroad.
Structure
Organization
Ground forces
Organizationally, the ground forces ( Heer) consist of units (squad, platoon, company), units ( separate battalion, regiment), formations (brigade, division, corps) and formations ( separate building, army, front). The ground forces include various types of troops, special troops and services. Total in composition ground forces: 23 brigades (9 deployed mechanized, 2 airborne, 2 logistics, mountain infantry, air-mechanized, army aviation, artillery, engineering, air defense, RCBZ troops, as well as 3 mechanized reduced strength); force command special purpose; German component of the Franco-German brigade.
Naval forces
Navy ( Marine) include: navy, naval aviation and special forces units (Marine Corps, SEK M). The leadership of the naval forces is carried out by the inspector of the navy through the main headquarters of the navy. Operational command and central control are subordinate to him. The Navy is the main component and basis of Germany's maritime potential, one of the instruments foreign policy state and is intended to ensure the protection of the interests of Germany and its allies in the World Ocean by military methods, maintaining military-political stability in the adjacent seas, and military security in maritime and ocean directions.
Air Force
Air Force ( Luftwaffe) is headed by an inspector who directs them through the main headquarters of the Air Force. The total strength of the Luftwaffe is 34 thousand military personnel, consisting of: 4 divisions, including reconnaissance, 4 fighter-bomber, 3 fighter squadrons and 4 air defense squadrons, 4 operational control areas, as well as a battalion covering facilities; military transport aviation command, which includes 3 military transport aviation squadrons and the air transport group of the German Ministry of Defense; Air Force Operations Command; 2 logistics support regiments and a weapons service center.
Cybernetic and information space
Main article: Cyber and information space in Germany
Cybernetic and information space ( Cyber- und Informationsraum) is headed by an inspector with the rank of lieutenant general. This is the newest category of forces of the Bundeswehr, recreated on April 5, 2017 from units that until then were part of the Joint Support Forces, such as communications, electronic warfare and reconnaissance units, psychological operations and topographic support.
Joint Support Forces
Joint Support Forces ( Streitkräftebasis) is headed by an inspector with the rank of Deputy Inspector General of the Bundeswehr. With the completion of the formation of the CBO, it is planned to assign them the tasks of management, support and training. Among the most important functions of the new component of the Armed Forces are the following: operational management, centralized support, information processing, ensuring the defense of national territory, and maintaining centrally subordinate warehouses.
Health service
Medical and sanitary service ( Zentrale Sanitätsdienst) The Bundeswehr is headed by an inspector, who has about 23 thousand military personnel at his disposal. The operational command of the medical and sanitary service is subordinate to the operational command of the MSS and four military districts. In April 2001, the formation of the central management of the MSS began.
German military forces abroad
Clergy in the Bundeswehr
Religious education in armed forces Germany has always received serious attention. Although there was no legislation on military clergy until 1919, already at the end of the 15th century the German Landsknecht regiment had a regimental chaplain on its staff.
In 1919, a military-spiritual administration was created, which was part of the judicial branch of the pension and judicial department. At the head of the administration were the field chief evangelical and field chief Catholic priests. In Prussia, the military clergy of the Evangelical Church was under the supervision of the military chief pastor (Militär-Oberpfarrer). In the branches of the military, the military clergy reported to the senior pastor. The religious needs of Lutherans and Catholics were met separately.
The residence of the senior pastor of the German Navy was in the city of Kiel. Each priest of the German navy had up to 4 ships under his jurisdiction, on which he alternately performed divine services on Sundays. In addition, the pastor came to the ship twice a week to talk with the crew. For conversations, which were usually of a religious and military-historical nature, official time was allocated. During the conversation, the entire ship's crew was relieved of work.
Also in the Bundeswehr are priests of the Protestant (Evangelical) Church. The Lutheran Military Bishop is appointed by the Council of the Evangelical Church of Germany in agreement with the federal government. The total number of Catholic and Protestant chaplains serving in the Bundeswehr is about 90.
While the situation with Syria continues to escalate alarmingly, military personnel, armored personnel carriers, Patriot systems appeared in the center of Berlin at the headquarters of the German Ministry of Defense, and the latest military developments of the Bundeswehr and NATO were uncovered and prepared. Coincidence? We try to figure it out and get acquainted with the German army.
After World War II, Germany got its own army in 1955.
The Ministry of Defense is the highest command agency of the armed forces and, from an organizational point of view, belongs to the federal government. A very important point in the management structure is that most of the top positions, including the Minister of Defense (in present moment Thomas de Maizière), occupied by civilians. The decision to conduct military operations is not made by one person (for example, the chancellor or president), but by the Bundestag.
The structure of the Ministry of Defense is quite simple: the Bundeswehr consists of two components: military and civilian (civilian). Civil includes management, department of personnel, weapons and equipment, infrastructure, security environment, legal support and care for the mental state of the military. The military includes three main types of armed forces (ground forces, air force and naval forces), as well as the central health service and support forces.
Since 2011, there is no conscription in Germany; the entire army is contract. As of the summer of 2013, 185 thousand soldiers serve in the Bundeswehr.
Now the Ministry of Defense is located in the so-called Bendlerblock (German: Bendlerblock). The Bendlerblock is a complex of buildings in which at various times the Wehrmacht High Command, the Navy High Command, military intelligence, city defense command, headquarters of the ground forces reserve. In addition, it was here that Claus von Stauffenberg was preparing the Valkyrie plan (surely you watched the film Operation Valkyrie?) and the assassination attempt on Hitler on July 20, 1944. This plan provided for the transfer of control of the country to the headquarters of the ground forces reserve in the event of internal unrest.
Once a year, the Ministry of Defense holds a day open doors, it was precisely in this regard that the opportunity arose to become better acquainted with current NATO technology.
This is what the newest 45-kilogram uniform of Bundeswehr soldiers serving in Afghanistan looks like.
Soldiers now do not have a microphone in the usual sense. Special multifunctional headphones are used through which sound is transmitted. And even with high level noise, the soldier can calmly negotiate with his colleagues.
Modern light reconnaissance armored vehicle "Fennec".
Multi-purpose armored personnel carrier GTX Boxer.
I was noticed.
Missile launcher of the Patriot complex.
Automatic G36C.
Sniper rifle G82.
Laser module.
Bundeswehr soldiers are happy to talk about various technical details. Many things can be touched and held.
NATO caliber - 5.56.
Packed rations.
Field kitchen.
Mobile military hospital.
MUSECO unmanned helicopter.
Armored Mowag Eagle
Monument fallen soldiers Bundeswehr.
The holes are not random. According to the architect's idea, they symbolize life and death. The individual serviceman's neck badge is oval and consists of two parts fastened together. When a soldier dies, the tag is broken, one part is sent home, the other remains on the soldier. In addition, through these holes, those who know Morse code will be able to read the encrypted repeating text.
Since 1955, more than 3,100 soldiers have died during military operations, 54 of them in Afghanistan.
A few more photos:
That day, many ministries had an open day. Hans-Peter Friedrich - Minister of the Interior.
In conclusion, I would like to show a short video from the Bundeswehr channel on YouTube about the open day. You can find me at 1:25.
P.S. At the moment I am continuing my European tour of the Visegrad Four countries, I am stuck in the Slovak city of Kosice. Something is already appearing on social media. networks, Instagram and Twitter. Keep in close touch!
Also read |
German Armed Forces represent a complex set of government organizational structures for various purposes and are one of the most modern and combat-ready armies Europe.
Reforms and the state of defense
The day of the actual formation of the German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, is November 12, 1955. Over the 60 years of its existence, the Bundeswehr has been reformed several times. However, not all change approaches have proven to be practically and financially viable. The beginning of military action against terror, proclaimed by the West after the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, led to another revision of approaches to military development.
At the same time, it became clear to the military-political leadership of Germany that in modern world, different from static conditions " cold war", it is impossible to unambiguously determine the final parameters of the transformations being carried out. Since the current security policy environment is subject to rapid change, there is no detailed reform that should immediately solve all the problems of the Bundeswehr. As a result, it appeared new approach, which consists in the continuous process of adapting the Bundeswehr to emerging challenges and is designated by the term “transformation”.
The goal of this process was to create and maintain operational capabilities of the Armed Forces in a rapidly changing environment. In the interests of supporting the Ministry of Defense in the implementation of the transformation process in 2004. The Bundeswehr Transformation Center (Zentrum für Transformation der Bundeswehr, ZTransfBw) was formed.
One of the consequences of the ongoing transformation was the suspension by the federal government in December 2010. conscription for military service. At the same time, the then Minister of Defense Karl-Theodor zu GUTTENBERG ( Karl-Theodorzu Guttenberg) initiated, and his successor Thomas de Mazières ( Thomas de Maiziè re) in March 2013 presented to the public another reform program, called “Reorientation of the Bundeswehr” ( Neuausrichtung der Bundeswehr). According to experts, the “reorientation” covers almost all aspects of the Bundeswehr’s activities and can be considered the most comprehensive reform of the German Armed Forces since their formation.
State of Defense
According to the German Constitution, the need for the country to take defensive actions is called a state of defense ( Verteidigungsfall). During the transition to a state of defense, according to Article 115b of the German Constitution, the powers of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Inhaber der Befehls- und Kommandogewal, IBuK) are transferred to the current Federal Chancellor.
The Bundeswehr is an army under parliamentary control. Its armed mission is carried out by decision of the German Bundestag. If the situation requires immediate action, then in accordance with the special provision of Art. 115a, paragraph 2 of the Constitution, the decision to use the Supreme Court can be made by the Joint Committee of the country. According to the provisions of Article 115a, paragraph 4 of the Constitution, if the country has been attacked, and the authorized federal bodies cannot declare a transition to a state of defense, the statement of such a transition is determined by the very fact of the attack.
Purpose and objectives
In accordance with Article 87a, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, the Federation creates armed forces for defense. The tasks and purposes of the Bundeswehr arising from this provision are conceptually described in the White Paper ( Weißbuch) and are subject to change over time to the same extent as the geopolitical security situation.
During the confrontation between East and West, protection from attack from the East was main task Bundeswehr. Since 1990 the range of its tasks changed significantly: in addition to the classical defense of the state, participation in foreign operations came to the fore. According to former minister defense of Peter Struc, the defense of the Federal Republic of Germany “no longer only in Hindelang, but also in the Hindu Kush” (“ nicht mehr nur in Hindelang, sondern auch am Hindukusch").
Entrance to the territory of the German Ministry of Defense Purpose
According to the “Main Directions of Defense Policy” ( verteidigungspolitischen Richtlinien, VPR), published in May 2011, and the White Paper 2016, the German Armed Forces, as part of a national approach, are intended to:
- protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Germany and its citizens;
- ensuring the stability of the state and society to external threats;
- guaranteeing and supporting the capacity of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of foreign policy and security;
- contribute with partners and allies to defend against security policy threats to open societies and free and secure global trade and supply routes;
- protecting Germany's allies and their citizens;
- promoting security and stability in the international context, strengthening European integration, transatlantic partnerships and multinational cooperation.
Tasks of the German Armed Forces
From this purpose flow the tasks of the Bundeswehr:
- defense of territory and allies within NATO and the EU;
- defense of the homeland, prevention of national crises and risks, as well as provision of additional services from Germany in international governance crises, including active military and civil-military involvement;
- partnership and cooperation also outside the EU and NATO;
- humanitarian emergency and disaster relief, taking responsibility for solving humanitarian problems.
Additionally, tasks that must be performed by the aircraft continuously are defined:
- defensive aspects of national digital (in Western terminology - cybernetic) security, contribution to the national picture of the situation in the digital and information space as part of ensuring national and international security, as well as guaranteeing the cybersecurity of armed forces networks;
- supporting and developing national key technology areas, and encouraging partnerships particularly in relation to European and Atlantic approaches to research, development and exploitation of existing capabilities;
- carrying out all necessary measures to support enterprises within the country, including the implementation of departmental tasks, determining qualifications, conducting initial training, advanced training and retraining of personnel, supporting combat and operational training, military security and order.
R leadership and structure
Top leadership of the German Armed Forces
The highest governing body of the Bundeswehr is the Federal Ministry of Defense ( Bundesministerium der Verteidigung, BMVg). The ministry is headed by the federal minister of defense, who in peacetime is the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. This position since December 17, 2013. occupied by Ursula Gertrude von der LEYEN ( Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen). The Minister of Defense is a member of the German federal government.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der LEYEN The Ministry of Defense is not part of the Bundeswehr, but, as the highest federal department, is called upon to support the minister in carrying out the tasks of managing the armed forces. Subordinate to the minister are two state secretaries and two parliamentary state secretaries, as well as the inspector general of the Armed Forces. The Secretary of Defense, Secretaries of State, and Inspector General jointly form the senior leadership of the Department of Defense.
The Inspector General, or inspector general of the Bundeswehr with the rank of general or admiral, is the highest military adviser to the German federal government. He is a member of the Federal Ministry of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of all members of the armed forces. In peacetime, the inspector general reports to the Minister of Defense, in a state of defense - to the Federal Chancellor. In addition, he is subordinate to the Secretaries of State of the Ministry of Defense (policy primacy). The Inspector General is responsible for the overall concept of military defense and is personally responsible to the Minister of Defense for the direction of Bundeswehr operations.
Inspector General of the Bundeswehr General Eberhard ZORN General structure of the aircraft
Subordinate to the Ministry of Defense, the Bundeswehr has military and civilian components, or armed forces ( Streitkrafte) and military administration ( Bundeswehrverwaltung), respectively. The leadership of the military and civilian components within the structure of the Ministry of Defense is carried out by designated departments of the ministry.
Armed forces
The German Armed Forces consists of three types of armed forces and interspecific components. To the types of armed forces ( Teilstreitkräfte) include :
- (Heer);
- (Luftwaffe);
- (Marine).
Interspecific components of the aircraft include:
- (Streitkräftebasis);
- (Cyber— und Informationsraum);
- (Zentrale Sanitätsdienst).
The listed types of armed forces and interspecific components are subordinate to the corresponding commands, headed by the corresponding inspectors with the rank of general.
In addition, the Armed Forces include authorities directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defense, and in official terms to the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr. These include:
Directorate of Military Counterintelligence ( Amt für den Militärischen Abschirmdienst, MAD);
Joint Operations Command of the Bundeswehr ( Einsatzführungskommando der Bundeswehr);
Higher Academy of Administration of the Bundeswehr ( Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr);
Bundeswehr Air Traffic Control ( Luftfahrtamt der Bundeswehr);
Bundeswehr Planning Office ( Planungsamt der Bundeswehr);
Propaganda Center ( Zentrum Innere Führung, ZInFü).
Military administration
The Bundeswehr administration is in charge of meeting the material needs of the Armed Forces, ensuring its daily activities, and selecting and placing personnel. Functionally, the administration is divided into three areas of responsibility: “Infrastructure, environmental protection and ensuring daily activities” ( Infrastruktur, Umweltschutz und Dienstleistungen, IUD), "Armament, information Technology and combat use ( Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung, AIN), as well as "Staff" ( Personal).
To solve practical problems Within these areas of responsibility, the following main institutions were formed during the reorientation of the Bundeswehr:
Federal Office for Infrastructure, Environment and Daily Activities ( Bundesamt für Infrastruktur, Umweltschutz und Dienstleistungen der Bundeswehr, BAIUDBw);
Federal Office for Armaments, Information Technology and Utilization of the Bundeswehr ( Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr, BAAINBw);
Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr ( Bundesamt für das Personalmanagement der Bundeswehr, BAPersBw);
Bundeswehr Education Center ( Bildungszentrum der Bundeswehr, BIZBw);
Federal department foreign languages (Bundessprachenamt, BSprA);
two Bundeswehr universities ( Universitäten der Bundeswehr, UniBw): in Munich ( Universität der Bundeswehr München, (UniBwM) and the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg ( Helmut-Schmidt-Universität – Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg , UniBwH/H.S.U.).
In addition, the military administration of the Bundeswehr includes legal protection bodies as independent parts ( Rechtspflege der Bundeswehr, RPflegeBw) and military church service ( Militärseelsorge).
The legal protection bodies include: the federal military prosecutor for administrative and disciplinary issues at the Supreme Federal Administrative Court ( Bundeswehrdisziplinaranwalt beim Bundesverwaltungsgericht) and military disciplinary courts, or courts of first instance “North” and “South” ( Truppendienstgerichten Nord und Süd)
The Catholic bishopric of the Armed Forces is in charge of matters of religious worship in the German Armed Forces ( Katholische Militärbischofsamt) and the Evangelical Office of the Bundeswehr for Church Affairs ( Evangelische Kirchenamt für die Bundeswehr).
Staff
All personnel of the German armed forces can be divided into three main groups: military personnel, civilian employees and reservists.
Military personnel
After the federal government refused conscription for compulsory military service, military personnel ( personnel) the Bundeswehr is divided into three categories: military personnel who perform military service voluntarily ( Freiwilliger Wehrdienstleistender, FWDL); contract military personnel ( Zeitsoldat) and professional military personnel ( Berufsoldat).
Volunteer military personnel must be over 17 years of age. Their service duration ranges from 12 to 23 months. Military personnel of this category form the basis of the group of enlisted personnel. Former volunteers who wish to extend their military service can enter service under a contract. The contract is signed for a period of 2 to 15 years. Contract servicemen make up groups of privates, non-commissioned officers and officers. Former contract soldiers who submit a report and pass professional selection can become professional military personnel. They form groups of non-commissioned officers and officers.
According to the personnel management of the German Ministry of Defense as of November 30, 2017. the total number of Bundeswehr troops was 179,408 troops. Of these, they include:
Ministry of Defense - 1,000 people;
authorities directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defense - 2,243 people;
ground forces - 60,582 people;
Air Force - 28,090 people;
Navy - 16,213 people;
joint support forces - 28,453 people;
central health service – 20,079 people;
cyber operations forces and information support– 12,519 people;
administrative regions
“Infrastructure, environmental protection and ensuring daily activities” - 987 people;
“Armament, information technology and combat use” - 1,566 people;
“Personnel” – 7,676 people, of which 4,097 people. study at Bundeswehr universities.
Civilian specialists
The Bundeswehr has about 96.6 thousand civil servants. Of these: about 24.5 thousand are in the state civil service, about 67.8 thousand are civilian employees of departments and departments, about 4.3 thousand are undergoing training or are on a probationary period in the state civil service. Of this total number of personnel, approximately 23.9 thousand employees are not on active duty for various reasons. Thus, there is an active staff of about 72.7 thousand civil servants.
Bundeswehr reserve
The reserve can be military, territorial and general.
Military reserve includes individual positions and additional military units that are deployed as needed. As a rule, reservists are persons with special civilian qualifications that the Armed Forces do not have in sufficient quantities. They are necessary for operational readiness additional units and positions in peacetime and to ensure defense readiness. This also includes so-called “mirror positions” for the necessary replacement of an active military personnel who is absent for any reason.
Reservists, especially those with specialized civilian knowledge, are also used in foreign operations. This applies, for example, to medical specialists such as gynecologists or pediatricians who are not on active service in the Bundeswehr, but whose knowledge is particularly needed in humanitarian operations.
Territorial reserve includes headquarters in districts and regions of Germany, bases of military-civil cooperation in Germany ( Zivil— Militä rische Zusammenarbeit im Inland, ZMZ— I), as well as new regional security and support forces ( Regionale Sicherungs- und Unterstützungskräften). A total of 30 territorial reserve companies are subordinated to the regional commands of the federal states.
General reserve includes all other reservists and ensures the possibility of a long-term increase in the strength of the Bundeswehr.
It is planned to have a total reserve strength of about 90 thousand people.
With the beginning of the “reorientation” reform of the Bundeswehr, a new total staffing level of the Armed Forces was established in the amount of up to 185 thousand military personnel ( PSM 185), of which 170 thousand are contract and professional military personnel, 2.5 thousand reservists, as well as from 5 to 12.5 thousand volunteers. The volume of civilian positions in the armed forces (i.e. not in the military administration of the Bundeswehr) should be 18.7 thousand people.
As part of the “turn in personnel policy” initiated by Defense Minister Ursula von der LEYEN (“ Trendwende Personal"), the number of contract and professional military personnel should increase from 170 to 177 thousand people. in the period from 2016 to 2021. In general, until 2023. it is planned to create 14.3 thousand additional official positions. As a first goal, by the end of 2016. it was planned to again reach the number of contract military personnel and professionals of 170 thousand people. However, this failed: their number was only 168,342 people.
