Bundespolizei or BPol for short, is the Federal Police of Germany. It is subordinate to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Normal police are under the administration of the individual states (Bundesländer). Federal police are the police of a federal government charged with enforcing and investigating the violations of federal laws. ... Germany is a federation of 16 states commonly called Länder (singular Land, which may be translated as country) or officially Bundesländer (singular Bundesland, German federal state). ...

The Bundespolizei was named "Bundesgrenzschutz" (BGS) until July 1st, 2005 when the law to change the name was enacted. July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

The BPol is responsible for border security, protection of federal buildings in the two capitals (Bonn and Berlin), and for providing the federal government's mobile response force for internal security events. It also guards airports, railways and foreign embassies and is responsible for counter-terrorism activities. It provides the German equivalent of air marshals. It is one of several civil organisation providing rescue helicopter service. The Bundespolizei can be used to reinforce state police if requested by a state. Bonn is a city in Germany (Population (2004 est): 313,605 ; the 19th largest city in Germany), in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine. ...   Berlin? (pronounced: , German ) is the capital of Germany and its largest city, with 3,426,000 inhabitants (as of January 2005); down from 4. ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ... There is no universally accepted definition of terrorism. According to Walter Laqueur of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the only general characteristic generally agreed upon is that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence. ... Sky marshal (or air marshal) is a popular term for an undercover armed guard on board a commercial aircraft, to counter aircraft hijackings (skyjackings). Three carriers are known to have sky marshals on board on selected flights: Swiss (since 1970; formerly Swissair), El Al, and Sri Lankan Airlines. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ...

Prior to 1994 BPol members had combatant status. A combatant (also referred to as an enemy combatant) is a soldier or guerrilla member who is waging war. ...

The Bundespolizei consists of around 40,000 persons of which 30,000 are fully trained police men and women and is organized along military lines into platoons, companies and battalions with police ranks and police career paths. It is equipped with light infantry weapons, armored vehicles, helicopters and boats. See also Platoon (movie) and platoon (automobile) for the concept for reducing traffic congestion. ... A company in the broadest sense is an aggregation of people who stay together for a common purpose. ... In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... A weapon is a tool used to kill or incapacitate a person or animal, or destroy a military target. ... ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... A boat, like a ship, is a buoyant vessel designed for the purpose of transporting people and possibly goods across water. ...

In general, the BPol has a positive reputation among German citizens. It is perceived as a source of security and as a well-trained, professional organisation. The fact that Bundespolizei does not handle normal police duties, like writing speeding tickets, might contribute to this. Its counter-terrorist unit, GSG9, is legendary. Political demonstrators who engaged in violent clashes with the police (normal and federal police) during rallies in the past most likely have a different view. Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9 - Border protection group 9) is a German counter-terrorism unit, and is considered to be among the best of such units in the world. ...

Organisation

The Bundespolizei Headquarters is in Koblenz. The Bundespolizei academy is in Lübeck. Koblenz (also Coblenz and the French Coblence) is after Mainz and Ludwigshafen am Rhein the third largest city in Rhineland-Palatinate (german Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany. ... Statistics State: Schleswig-Holstein District: Independent city Area: 214. ...

• 5 Regional Commands
  • North - Bad Bramstedt
  • East - Berlin
  • Middle - Fuldatal
  • South - Munich
  • West - Sankt Augustin
• 128 Inspectorates including
  • 82 Regional Inspectorates
  • 19 Airport Inspectorates
  • 18 Criminal Investigations Inspectorates
  • 5 Protection Inspectorates
  • 3 Water police Inspectorates with patrol craft and helicopters
  • 1 Special Operations Inspectorate

also existing are: Bad Bramstedt is a small town in the north of Hamburg, Germany. ...   Berlin? (pronounced: , German ) is the capital of Germany and its largest city, with 3,426,000 inhabitants (as of January 2005); down from 4. ... Munich: Frauenkirche and Town Hall steeple Munich (German: München (pronounced listen) is the state capital of the German Bundesland of Bavaria. ... Water police, also called harbor patrols, port police, marine police, or river police, are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organisation, who patrol in water craft. ... Special forces or special operations forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. ...

• BPol Flying Service - operates helicopters
• GSG9 - Counter-terrorist Group
• BPol Information and Communications Center
• 11 Mobile Units - battalion sized, based in barracks

Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9 - Border protection group 9) is a German counter-terrorism unit, and is considered to be among the best of such units in the world. ... The Alert Police or Bereitschaftspolizie are the barracked mobile of Germany. ...

External link

• Bundespolizei home page (in German)