The Bundeswehr is the armed forces of Germany. It is a federal defense force with Army (Heer), Navy (Marine), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Medical Services (Zentraler Sanitätsdienst) and Command of the Armed Forces (Streitkräftebasis) branches. It employs some 250,000 soldiers, 50,000 of whom are 18-30-year-old men doing their duty in the military services for currently at least 9 months. In peacetime, the Bundeswehr is led by the minister of defense, currently Peter Struck (since 2002). If Germany is in a state of defence, the chancellor becomes commander in chief of the Bundeswehr.

History

The Bundeswehr was founded in 1955 succeeding the Wehrmacht and the former Reichswehr - after some discussion about re-militarizing Germany (the Wiederbewaffnung) after World War II - by changing the German Grundgesetz (basic law, Germany's constitution). In 1955 West Germany became a NATO member. In 1956 a conscription for all men between 18 and 45 in years was introduced, later on softened by the introduction of a civil alternative with longer duration.

After reunification in 1990, the Bundeswehr was effectively merged with the Nationale Volksarmee of the GDR, by the fact that the latter was dissolved.

In 1999, the NATO war on Yugoslavia was the first non-defensive war the Bundeswehr actively took part in.

In 2000 the European Court of Justice opened up the previously all-male (besides medical divisions and the music corps) Bundeswehr to women.

Organization

The Bundeswehr currently consists of about 250,000 soldiers, about one fifth of whom are conscripts. There are three corps in the Army; below them are 5 combat divisions. Luftwaffe is divided in 3 Divisons, and the Navy in 2 small fleets.

Mission

The role of the Bundeswehr is described in the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) (Art. 87a) as defensive only. Today defense is seen as including not only defense at the borders of Germany, but also as crisis reaction and conflict prevention, or broadly as saving the security of Germany. This allows the Bundeswehr to take part in missions outside of the borders of Germany, as part of the NATO or mandated by the UN.

Currently there are Bundeswehr troops in:

• Afghanistan
  • ISAF
  • 2,150 Soldiers
• Kosovo
  • KFOR
  • 3,000 Soldiers
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • EUFOR (former SFOR)
  • 1,100 Soldiers
  • since 12/02/2004 under European Union Command
• Georgia
  • UNOMIG
  • 12 Soldiers
• Ethiopia and Eritrea
  • UNMEE
  • 2 Soldiers
• Horn of Africa/Indian Ocean
  • Enduring Freedom
  • 100 Soldiers
• Mediterranean Sea
  • Active Endeavour
  • 240 Soldiers
    • 1 Frigate
    • 1 Submarine
• Sudan
  • AMIS
  • 75 Soldiers
• Germany
  • MEDEVAC Mission Support Troops
  • 67 Soldiers

See also

German Federal Coast Guard, Luftwaffe, German Navy, ceremonial oath of the Bundeswehr, Aganauten

External links

• Bundeswehr (http://www.bundeswehr.de/) - Official site
• kamouflage.net: online index of camouflage uniforms from around the world (http://www.kamouflage.net/)
  • kamouflage.net > Europe > Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) > index (http://www.kamouflage.net/camouflage/00138/en_index.php)