Bundeswehr

The Bundeswehr ({{Audio|De-Bundeswehr-pronunciation.ogg|listen}}) is the armed forces of Germany and its administration. It is a federal defence force with Army (Heer), Navy (Marine), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Central Medical Services (Zentraler Sanitätsdienst) and Joint Service Support Command (Streitkräftebasis) branches. It employs some 250,000 personnel, 50,000 of whom are 18?25-year-old men on national duty for currently at least 9 months. In peacetime, the Bundeswehr is commanded by the Minister of Defence, currently Peter Struck (since 2002). If Germany is in a state of defence, the chancellor becomes commander in chief of the Bundeswehr.

Mission

The role of the Bundeswehr is described in the German Basic Law (Art. 87a) as defensive only. Today defence is seen as including not only defence at the borders of Germany, but also as crisis reaction and conflict prevention, or broadly as saving the security of Germany anywhere in the world. According to a definition by Defence Minister Struck, it may be necessary to defend Germany also at the Hindukush. This allows the Bundeswehr to take part in missions outside of the borders of Germany, as part of the NATO or the European Union and mandated by the UN .

Related Topics:
Security - European Union - UN

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Since the early 1990s the Bundeswehr has become more and more engaged in international missions in and around the former Yugoslavia but also in other parts of the world like Cambodia or Somalia. After the September 11, 2001 attacks German forces were employed in most related theatres except Iraq. Currently there are Bundeswehr forces in:

Related Topics:
Yugoslavia - Cambodia - Somalia - September 11, 2001 attacks - Iraq

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• Afghanistan
• ISAF
• 2,430 personnel
• Kosovo
• KFOR
• 2,600 personnel
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• EUFOR (former SFOR)
• 1,050 personnel
• since 12/02/2004 under European Union Command
• Georgia
• UNOMIG
• 12 personnel
• Ethiopia and Eritrea
• UNMEE
• 2 personnel
• Horn of Africa/Indian Ocean
• Enduring Freedom
• 310 personnel
• Frigates
• Maritime Patrol Aircraft
• Mediterranean Sea
• Active Endeavour
• 190 personnel
• 1 Frigate
• 1 Submarine
• Sudan
• UNMIS
• up to 75 personnel

In support of Allied stabilisation efforts for Iraq the Bundeswehr is also training the new Iraqi forces in locations outside Iraq such as the United Arab Emirates and Germany.

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