77-466: The Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology also known as Wehrtechnisches Museum Koblenz and Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz (WTS-Koblenz) is the official Bundeswehr 's Defense Technology Study Collection in Koblenz . It is one of Germany's important technical military exhibitions, with about 30,000 objects on an exhibition area of around 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft). It
154-633: A German military were forbidden by Allied regulations. Some naval mine-sweeping units such as the German Mine Sweeping Administration ( Deutscher Minenräumdienst ) continued to exist, but they remained unarmed and under Allied control and did not serve as a national defence force. The Federal Border Protection ( Bundesgrenzschutz ), a mobile, lightly armed police force of 10,000 men, was formed on 14 March 1951 and expanded to 20,000 men on 19 June 1953. A proposal to integrate West German troops with soldiers of France, Belgium,
231-521: A consequence of improved Dutch-German cooperation, since 2014 two of the three Royal Netherlands Army Brigades are under German Command. In 2014, the 11th Airmobile Brigade was integrated into the German Division of fast forces (DSK). The Dutch 43rd Mechanized Brigade will be assigned to the 1st Panzer Division of the German army, with the integration starting at the beginning of 2016, and
308-646: A few exhibits from this period, such as an early Bouclier roulant personnel carrier, have been transferred to the WTS. Pieces such as the Salvator Dormus self-loading pistol were also transferred from earlier holdings of the Army Weapons Office and the Wehrmacht from their collections on the history of defense and weapons technology. As a purposeful study collection, a predecessor institution of
385-588: A few key reformers, such as General Ulrich de Maiziere , General Graf von Kielmansegg , and Graf von Baudissin , who reemphasised some of the more democratic parts of Germany's armed forces history in order to establish a solid civil-military basis to build upon. After an amendment of the Basic Law in 1955, West Germany became a member of NATO. The first public military review took place at Andernach , in January 1956. In 1956, conscription for all men between
462-603: A fundamental preservation of the collection and against a dissolution and liquidation. On 26 July. 2018, Vice Admiral Stawitzki, Head of the Equipment Department at the BMVg, visited the WTS and informeded himself about general conditions and future perspectives. On 28 March 2019, MdB Josef Oster, Member of the Bundestag in the constituency 199 Koblenz, visited the WTS to get an impression of the special conditions of
539-709: A number of large-scale training exercises resulting in operational casualties. The first such incident was in June 1957, when 15 paratroop recruits drowned in the Iller river, Bavaria . At the time of reunification, the German military boasted a manpower of some 585,000 soldiers. As part of the German reunification process, under the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (Two-Plus Four Treaty), which paved
616-508: A plan to increase the power of the German military, pledging €100 billion ($ 112.7 billion) of the 2022 budget for the armed forces and repeating his promise to reach the 2% of gross domestic product spending on defense in line with (as editorialized by Deutsche Welle ) NATO "demands". According to information from defense politicians of the federal German parliament, representatives of the armaments industry and other experts, in October 2022
693-593: A pledge for recruits, and a solemn vow for full-time personnel. The pledge is made annually on 20 July, the date on which a group of Wehrmacht officers attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. Recruits from the Bundeswehr 's Wachbataillon make their vow ( Gelöbnis ) at the Bendlerblock in Berlin. This was the headquarters of the resistance and also where the officers were summarily executed following
770-624: A simple majority. This has led to some discontent with Germany's allies about troop deployments e.g. in Afghanistan since parliamentary consent over such issues is relatively hard to achieve in Germany. The combat forces of the Army are organised into three combat divisions and participate in multi-national command structures at the corps level. The Air Force maintains three divisions and the Navy
847-487: A strength of 180,215 active-duty military personnel and 80,761 civilians, placing it among the 30 largest military forces in the world, and making it the second largest in the European Union behind France . In addition, the Bundeswehr has approximately 34,600 reserve personnel (2024). With German military expenditures at $ 66.8 billion (2023), the Bundeswehr is the seventh highest-funded military in
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#1732801215610924-411: A symbol that has a long association with the military of Germany, is its official emblem. The Schwarzes Kreuz is derived from the black cross insignia of the medieval Teutonic knights ; since 1813 the symbol has been used to denote a military decoration for all ranks. When the Bundeswehr was established in 1955, its founding principles were based on developing a completely new military force for
1001-464: A thematically arranged special collection with a wealth of illustrative material on the development of armament, equipment, gear and uniforms from the early 19th century onwards, with a focus on the Bundeswehr . In connection with the service-related purpose of the collection for documentation and training, the exhibits are not demilitarized and are mostly fully functional. Today, the WTS is one of
1078-840: A transfer to the southern part of the Deines-Bruchmüller-Barracks in Lahnstein was discussed. This approach, which aimed to involve the city of Lahnstein in a private-law operator model, failed. An integration into the Military History Museum of the German Armed Forces in Dresden was not pursued. Instead, this museum institution of the Bundeswehr took over numerous exhibits to Dresden and affiliated sites. A temporarily favoured option
1155-500: Is for official use only. These tasks determine the personnel and financial resources of the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung from the federal budget. The WTS is open to the public. Since 1982, about 1,000,000 people have visited the collection. It is generally perceived as a museum, published accordingly in local museum directories, and signposted as such. However, the WTS is not a museum by the definition of
1232-538: Is known as one of the most extensive collections of its kind internationally. The main focus of the museum is on defense technology and the military science library. It is a subsidiary of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw – formerly the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement). The initial history of the WTS kicks off with
1309-565: Is located at Henning von Tresckow Kaserne ( Schwielowsee ) near Potsdam and is headed by a Generalleutnant (3-star general). The role of the Bundeswehr is described in the Constitution of Germany (Art. 87a) as absolutely defensive only. Its only active role before 1990 was the Katastropheneinsatz (disaster control). Within the Bundeswehr , it helped after natural disasters both in Germany and abroad. After 1990,
1386-416: Is not taught in the museums of the Bundeswehr or at the universities of the Bundeswehr. Higher engineering expertise on historical-technical issues is only available at the WTS. As a historian, I need this technical perspective." In particular, the technical-historical reference of the collection is evaluated as important in order to be able to better classify historical contexts. In the 2020 museum ranking of
1463-503: Is only performed during national celebrations or solemn public commemorations. It can honour distinguished persons present such as the German federal president, or provide the conclusion to large military exercises. Another important tradition in the modern German armed forces is the Gelöbnis : the solemn oath made by serving professional soldiers, and recruits ( and formerly conscripts ) during basic training. There are two kinds of oath:
1540-517: Is structured into two flotillas. The Joint Support Service and the Joint Medical Service are both organized in four regional commands of identical structure. All of these services also have general commands for training, procurement, and other general issues. The Armed Forces Operational Command ( Einsatzführungskommando der Bundeswehr ) is the only joint military command of the Bundeswehr. It controls all missions abroad. The command
1617-538: Is the Großer Zapfenstreich . This is a form of military tattoo that has its origins in the landsknecht era. The FRG reinstated this formal military ceremony in 1952, three years before the foundation of the Bundeswehr . Today it is performed by a military band with 4 fanfare trumpeters and timpani, a corps of drums, up to two escort companies of the Bundeswehr 's Wachbataillon (or another deputized unit) and Torchbearers. The Zapfenstreich
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#17328012156101694-916: Is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany . The Bundeswehr is divided into a military part (armed forces or Streitkräfte ) and a civil part, the military part consisting of the German Army , the German Navy , the German Air Force , the Joint Support Service , the Joint Medical Service , and the Cyber and Information Domain Service . As of 31 May 2024 , the Bundeswehr had
1771-409: The Bundeswehr acknowledged in October chronic equipment problems that rendered its armed forces "unable to deliver its defensive NATO promises". Among the problems cited were dysfunctional weapons systems, armored vehicles, aircraft, and naval vessels unfit for immediate service due to a neglect of maintenance, and serious equipment and spare parts shortages. The situation was so dire in 2016 that it
1848-531: The Bundeswehr as "perhaps (the) world's best army". The Army consisted of three corps with 12 divisions, most of them heavily armed with tanks and APCs. The Luftwaffe owned significant numbers of tactical combat aircraft and took part in NATO's integrated air defence (NATINAD) . The Navy was tasked and equipped to defend the Baltic Approaches , to provide escort reinforcement and resupply shipping in
1925-520: The Bundeswehr is to play a greater role as "anchor army" for smaller NATO states, by improving coordination between its divisions and smaller members' Brigades . A further proposal by Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen , to allow non-German EU nationals to join the Bundeswehr , was met in July 2016 by strong opposition, even from her own party. It was announced in February 2017 that
2002-495: The Bundeswehr were awarded new contracts and new ranks, dependent on their individual qualification and experience. Many were granted and accepted a lower rank than previously held in the Volksarmee . In general, the unification process of the two militaries – under the slogan " Armee der Einheit " (or "Army of Unity") – has been seen publicly as a major success and an example for other parts of
2079-541: The Baltic states or Indonesia (the latter received 39 former Volksmarine vessels of various types). With reunification, all restrictions on the manufacture and possession of conventional arms that had been imposed on the Bundeswehr as a condition for West German rearmament were lifted. Since 1996, Germany also has its own special forces, the Kommando Spezialkräfte (Special Forces Command). It
2156-547: The Czech Republic 's 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade and Romania 's 81st Mechanized Brigade would be integrated into Germany's 10 Armoured Division and Rapid Response Forces Division. As of 31 December 2022 , the number of active military personnel in the Bundeswehr was 183,051. Military expenditure in Germany was at $ 52.8 billion in 2020. At the end of February 2022, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine , chancellor Olaf Scholz announced
2233-824: The Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71). However, after the project for a European Defence Community failed in the French National Assembly in 1954, France agreed to West German accession to NATO and rearmament. With growing tensions between the Soviet Union and the West, especially after the Korean War , this policy was to be revised. While the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was already secretly rearming,
2310-566: The Great Recession and the European debt crisis . In 2011/12, a major reform of the Bundeswehr was announced under Thomas de Maizière , further limiting the number of military bases and soldiers. The land forces of the Bundeswehr would have three large units at divisional level. There are currently five. The number of brigades decreased from eleven to eight. German military expenditures are lower than comparable countries such as
2387-697: The Krupp firing range in Meppen , which was established by Friedrich Krupp AG from 1877. The eventful history of the site and the holdings there during the First World War, the period of the Treaty of Versailles, the Second World War until the takeover of the properties by the Bundeswehr is documented only scarsly. Although there was considerable testing of weapons and equipment prior to 1945, only
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2464-673: The North Sea and to contain the Soviet Baltic Fleet . During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s, German special forces of the Bundeswehr were deployed as part of a covert operation. During this time, Operation Summer Rain played a significant role. The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) conducted this secret mission, where special forces were infiltrated from West Germany to Pakistan and then into Afghanistan . The primary task of these special units
2541-600: The Panavia Tornado . Germany considered increasing the size of the army, and in May 2016 it announced it would spend €130 billion on new equipment by 2030 and add nearly 7,000 soldiers by 2023 in the first German military expansion since the end of the Cold War. In February 2017, the German government announced another expansion, which would increase the number of its professional soldiers by 20,000 by 2024. As
2618-536: The Russian invasion of Ukraine , Germany announced a major shift in policy, pledging a €100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr ;– to remedy years of underinvestment – along with raising the budget to above 2% GDP . The name Bundeswehr was first proposed by former Wehrmacht general and Liberal politician Hasso von Manteuffel . The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) ,
2695-530: The Bundeswehr only had enough ammunition in stock for one or two days during wartime. A report made by the Ministry of Defence revealed problems in the Bundeswehr such as limited preparedness and lack of equipment. In the letter accompanying the report which was sent to the federal German parliament , the Minister of Defence noted that the situation would improve but "closing the gaps takes time". With
2772-557: The Bundeswehr. As an official museum, the BMVg division operates the Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr in Dresden, which maintains various branch offices. For the WTS in Koblenz, this has consequences for the presentation and the mediation formats. A comprehensive museum concept, detailed military-historical descriptions, examples of use or armament-historical classifications are mostly missing. The WTS offers
2849-470: The Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement. The WTS was expanded in particular by the military historian Arnold Wirtgen, who was in charge of the WTS until 1988. From 1995 to 2021, the management was in the hands of his son Rolf Wirtgen. Since 2001, the WTS has participated in the Koblenz Long Night of Museums with a large number of visitors. On 1 October 2012, the subordination of
2926-1038: The German Tank Museum in Munster, the Army History Museum in Vienna, the Swiss Military Museum in Full, the Bovington Tank Museum, and the Tank Museum in Saumur, the WTS is one of the most important defense technology collections internationally, but unlike them, it covers the entire technological and historical breadth of defense technology. In its reports from 2009 and 2015, the Federal Court of Audit accused
3003-688: The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy in a European Defence Community was proposed but never implemented. There was a discussion among the United States, the United Kingdom and France over the issue of a revived (West) German military. In particular, France was reluctant to allow Germany to rearm in light of recent history (Germany had invaded France twice in living memory, in World War I and World War II , and also defeated France in
3080-473: The United Kingdom, or countries of the European Union such as France, especially when taking into account Germany's larger population and economy. This discrepancy is often criticized by Germany's NATO allies, as far back as Obama -era US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates . As one result of the 2014 NATO Wales summit which was attended by both Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen in September 2014,
3157-598: The WTS changed to the newly established Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw). Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WTS has been closed to visitors. Since 2023 the WTS is open to the public again. The purpose of the collection is first of all to fulfill the core tasks of the service: In addition, it operates a specialized defense technology and military science library with approx. 18,000 volumes and more than 30,000 technical service regulations. This library
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3234-406: The WTS of making the collection expendable. In particular, it was accused of operating the collection without a viable concept and in an uneconomic fashion . The criticism of the Federal Court of Audit led to an intensive consideration of the future of the WTS by decision-makers: on 12 July 2016, State Secretary Dr. Karin Suder decided in a table discussion with department heads in the BMVg in favor of
3311-510: The WTS published the book series "Wehrtechnik und wissenschaftliche Waffenkunde" (Defense Technology and Scientific Weaponry) on defense technology and technical-historical research topics of the WTS, initially by the publishing house E.S. Mittler in Herford, and most recently in 2012 by Bernard & Graefe in Bonn. In addition to the historians Arnold and Rolf Wirtgen, the mechanical engineer Wolfram Funk and historians Matthias Uhl and Hans-Dierk Fricke, among others, published in this series. Some of
3388-424: The WTS was established in 1961–62 as the "Collection of Weapons and Design Studies", initially at what was then Test Site 91 in Meppen/Emsland, on the former site of the Krupp firing range. On 12 November 1982, the facility was opened as the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung in the former Langemarck barracks in Koblenz by the former President of the German Bundestag , Richard Stücklen. It was now directly subordinate to
3465-409: The ages of 18 and 45 was reintroduced, later augmented by a civil alternative with longer duration (see Conscription in Germany ). In response, East Germany formed its own military force, the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA), in 1956, with conscription being established only in 1962. The Nationale Volksarmee was eventually dissolved with the reunification of Germany in 1990. Compulsory conscription
3542-440: The collection's service-related tasks within the Bundeswehr. In 1979, the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung e.V. was founded to support public access in particular and to promote the necessary museum tasks of the WTS. Among the founding members are several high-ranking soldiers, members of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, and defense technology companies. The chairmanship
3619-413: The defence of West Germany . In this respect the Bundeswehr did not consider itself to be a successor to either the Reichswehr (1921–1935) of the Weimar Republic or Hitler's Wehrmacht (1935–1945), and did not adhere to the traditions of any former German military organization. Its official ethos is based on three major themes: One of the most visible traditions of the modern Bundeswehr
3696-416: The definition given by Defence Minister Peter Struck (2002 to 2005), it may be necessary to defend Germany even at the Hindu Kush . This requires the Bundeswehr to take part in operations outside of the borders of Germany, as part of NATO or the European Union and mandated by the UN. Since the early 1990s the Bundeswehr has become more and more engaged in international operations in and around
3773-474: The exhibition. When new exhibits are put on display, others go to external storage facilities, are lent out or handed over, this almost exclusively in the area of the Bundeswehr. A representative selection of 30,000 exhibits presents a cross-section of the collection. Examples of exhibits The following selection shows exhibits and the range of the exhibition, which is fanned out from historical small parts to large military equipment and watercraft. Starting in 1987,
3850-465: The facility. In 2019, the WTS recorded 25,000 visitors, of which almost 9,000 were from the Bundeswehr. In its January 2021 issue, the newspaper Loyal reported on the current status of the WTS and the position of the Federal Ministry of Defense in evaluating the collection as important in terms of its mission and wanting to maintain it in the future. The article also quotes military historian Sönke Neitzel: "We need this technical memory. Technical history
3927-424: The failure of the attempt. National commemorations are held nearby within the grounds of the Reichstag . Similar events also take place across the German Republic. Since 2011, when conscription was suspended, the wording of the ceremonial vow for full-time recruits and volunteer personnel is: Serving Bundeswehr personnel replace " Ich gelobe , ..." with " Ich schwöre , ..." ("I swear..."). After World War II
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#17328012156104004-535: The former Yugoslavia , and also in other parts of the world like Cambodia or Somalia . After the 11 September 2001 attacks , German forces were employed in most related theaters except Iraq . Currently (1 April 2024) there are 1,084 Bundeswehr soldiers deployed in: In addition to the numbers above, 51 soldiers are on permanent stand-by for medical evacuation operations around the world in assistance of ongoing German or coalition operations ( STRATAIRMEDEVAC ). In support of Allied stabilization efforts in Iraq,
4081-427: The former Fritsch barracks in front of Ehrenbreitstein fortress was discussed in Koblenz. This was prepared in 2005. It was intended to be implemented by the time of the Bundesgartenschau (Federal Garden Show) in 2011. The project was ready for decision around 2008, but was not realized. The Federal Minister of Defense Jung visited the WTS on 1 July 2008, and announced that the collection would remain in Koblenz. In 2016,
4158-411: The former Langemarck-Barracks was up for debate. A decision and resulting infrastructure measures were not announced until the end of 2021. The Association Friends and Sponsors of the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung (Verein der Freunde und Förderer der Wehrtechnischen Studiensammlung e.V.-VFF WTS e.V.) supports the WTS. The personnel and financial resources provided by the service ensure the performance of
4235-484: The growing number of missions abroad it was recognized that the Bundeswehr required a new command structure. A reform commission under the chairmanship of the former President Richard von Weizsäcker presented its recommendations in spring 2000. In October 2000 the Joint Support Service , the Streitkräftebasis , was established to concentrate logistics and other supporting functions such as military police, supply and communications under one command. Medical support
4312-407: The international situation changed from east–west confrontation to one of general uncertainty and instability. After a ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court in 1994 the term "defence" has been defined to not only include protection of the borders of Germany, but also crisis reaction and conflict prevention, or more broadly as guarding the security of Germany anywhere in the world. According to
4389-465: The largest collections of its kind in Europe, with about 30,000 collection items on about 7,000 m of exhibition space. The collection and exhibition focuses on: The exhibits mainly belong to the Bundeswehr. Experimental and prototype items originate from project developments and research projects, which were mainly carried out within the framework of the tasks of the various defense technology departments. The change of exhibits serves especially to update
4466-478: The later Federal Ministry of Defence , was formed the same year to prepare the establishment of the future forces. Hasso von Manteuffel , a former general of the Wehrmacht and Free Democratic Party politician, submitted the name Bundeswehr for the new forces. This name was later confirmed by the West German Bundestag . The Bundeswehr was officially established on the 200th birthday of Scharnhorst on 12 November 1955. In personnel and education terms,
4543-427: The most important initial feature of the new German armed forces was to be their orientation as citizen defenders of a democratic state, fully subordinate to the political leadership of the country. A personnel screening committee was created to make sure that the future colonels and generals of the armed forces were those whose political attitude and experience would be acceptable to the new democratic state. There were
4620-410: The publications can still be purchased at antiquarian booksellers. Over the years, the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz has organized a number of special exhibitions to present specific areas of the collection. Unlike the Bundeswehr Military History Museum, which presents the development of military in a historical-social context, the WTS focuses on technologies in defense engineering. Along with
4697-422: The responsibility for the security of Germany as a whole rested with the four occupying Allied Powers : the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union . Germany had been without armed forces since the Wehrmacht was dissolved following World War II . When the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949, it was without a military. Germany remained completely demilitarized and any plans for
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#17328012156104774-417: The seeds of a new West German force started in 1950 when former high-ranking German officers were tasked by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to discuss the options for West German rearmament . The results of a meeting in the monastery of Himmerod formed the conceptual base to build the new armed forces in West Germany. The Amt Blank (Blank Agency, named after its director Theodor Blank ), the predecessor of
4851-451: The service chiefs form the Military Command Council ( Militärischer Führungsrat ) with functions similar to those of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States. Subordinate to the CHOD is the Armed Forces Operational Command ( Einsatzführungskommando ) . For smaller missions one of the service HQs (e.g. the Fleet Command) may exercise command and control of forces in missions abroad. The Bundestag must approve any foreign deployment by
4928-465: The society. With the reduction, a large amount of the military hardware of the Bundeswehr , as well as of the Volksarmee , had to be disposed of. Most of the armoured vehicles and fighter jet aircraft (the Bundesluftwaffe – due to reunification – was the only air force in the world that flew both Phantoms and MIGs) were dismantled under international disarmament procedures. Many ships were scrapped or sold, often to
5005-405: The time 1.3% of GDP, by 6.2% over the following five years, allowing the Ministry of Defense to fully modernize the army. The 2015 reform set a required strength of 185,000 soldiers. Plans were also announced to significantly expand the tank fleet to a potential number of 328, order 131 more Boxer armored personnel carriers , increase the submarine fleet, and to develop a new fighter jet to replace
5082-442: The unit becoming operational at the end of 2019. In February 2016 it was announced that the Seebatallion of the German Navy would start to operate under Royal Dutch Navy command. The Dutch-German military cooperation was seen in 2016 by von der Leyen and Dutch Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert as an example for setting up a European defense union. According to a policy dictated by von der Leyen in February 2017,
5159-442: The way for reunification, the Bundeswehr was to be reduced to 370,000 personnel, of whom no more than 345,000 were to be in the Army and Air Force. This would be Germany's contribution to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe , and the restrictions would enter into force at the time the CFE treaty would. As a result, the Bundeswehr was significantly reduced, and the former East German Nationale Volksarmee (NVA)
5236-418: The website Testberichte.de, which ranked over 500 museums according to their popularity, the WTS achieved 34th place nationwide and second place in Rhineland-Palatinate. In the discussion for a future design of the WTS, the necessary infrastructure, a sufficient personnel framework and the economic efficiency in operation play a role above all. For a long time, the relocation of the WTS with all its functions to
5313-410: The world, though military expenditures have until recently remained low at an average at 1.5% of national GDP, well below the non-binding NATO target of 2%. In 2024, Germany fulfilled NATO obligations of spending 2% of its GDP on its armed forces. Germany is aiming to expand the Bundeswehr to around 203,000 soldiers by 2025 to better cope with increasing responsibilities. Following concerns from
5390-452: Was acknowledged that most of Germany's fighter aircraft and combat helicopters were not in deployable condition, although the Air Force had almost 38,000 soldiers, and von der Leyen's daycare system to boot. In 2015, as a result of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation , Germany announced what was termed "a major increase" in defense spending. In May 2015, the German government approved an increase in defense spending, at
5467-453: Was disbanded, with a portion of its personnel and materiel being absorbed into the Bundeswehr . About 50,000 Volksarmee personnel were integrated into the Bundeswehr on 2 October 1990. This figure was rapidly reduced as conscripts and short-term volunteers completed their service. A number of senior officers (but no generals or admirals) received limited contracts for up to two years to continue daily operations. Personnel remaining in
5544-671: Was formed after German citizens had to be rescued from the Rwandan genocide by Belgian Para-Commandos as the Special Commands of the Federal Police were not capable of operating in a war zone. A major event for the German military was a series of defense spending cuts and the suspension of the compulsory conscription for men in 2011. These were introduced by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble as part of austerity measures in response to
5621-416: Was initially held by the respective mayor of Koblenz. Currently, the association is chaired by Andreas Biebricher as 1st chairman, and Christian Leitzbach as 2nd chairman. The board's scientific advisor until 2023 was Rolf Hilmes, an expert renowned for the development of armor technology. Bundeswehr The Bundeswehr ( German: [ˈbʊndəsˌveːɐ̯] , literally Federal Defence )
5698-578: Was reorganised with the establishment of the Joint Medical Service . In 2016, the Bundeswehr created its youngest branch the Cyber and Information Space Command . The Minister of Defence is supported by the Chief of Defense (CHOD, Generalinspekteur ) and the service chiefs ( Inspekteure : Inspector of the Army , Inspector of the Air Force , Inspector of the Navy ) and their respective staffs in his or her function as commander-in-chief. The CHOD and
5775-537: Was suspended – but not completely abolished as an alternative – in January 2011. During the Cold War the Bundeswehr was the backbone of NATO's conventional defence in Central Europe . It had a strength of 495,000 military and 170,000 civilian personnel. Although Germany had smaller armed forces than France and the United States, Cold War historian John Lewis Gaddis assesses
5852-533: Was the consolidation of the WTS and its satellite camps on the grounds of the Metternich field office (Wasserplatz) of Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 41 in Koblenz-Metternich. This project option was tied to the termination of the interim use with office containers by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support. Alternatively, the redevelopment of the site in
5929-404: Was to clandestinely acquire Soviet weapon technology, including armor for combat helicopters, vehicles, landmines, modern ammunition such as uranium rounds, rocket warheads, night vision devices, and navigation technology. Collaboration with the insurgent Mujahideen was central to this covert operation. During this time the Bundeswehr did not take part in combat operations. However, there were
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