Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr (German for "Federal Defence Force"; 
listen (info • help)) are the German Armed Forces. The German armed forces are for the unified Germany itself and do not have several parts for the States of Germany.
| Federal Defence Forces of Germany Bundeswehr | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the Bundeswehr | |
| Established | November 12, 1955 |
| Current form | October 2, 1990 |
| Parts | Heer (Army) Marine (Navy) Luftwaffe (Air Force) Streitkräftebasis (Joint Support Service) Zentraler Sanitätsdienst (Central Medical Services) |
| Headquarters | Bonn, Berlin and Potsdam |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière[1] after declaration of state of defence: Chancellor Angela Merkel[2] |
| Minister of Defense | Thomas de Maizière |
| Chief of staff | General Volker Wieker (Heer) |
| Serving soldiers | |
| Military age | 17 |
| Conscription | No (Suspended on 1 July 2011) |
| Available to be a soldier |
19,594,118 (2009 est.), age 17–49 |
| Fit to be a soldier |
15,747,493 (2009 est.), age 17–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
445,048 (2009 est.) |
| Active employees/soldiers | 207,247 active |
| Reserve personnel | 200,000 reserves |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | € 31.1 billion (FY09) |
| Percent of GDP | 1.5% (FY09) |
| Industry | |
| Suppliers from inland | EADS Heckler & Koch Rheinmetall Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Walther arms ThyssenKrupp |
| Suppliers from foreign countries |
 European Union United States
|
| Annual imports | Volume of about $1 bln (2009 est.) |
| Annual exports | Volume of about $9 bln (2009 est.) |
There are five sections: three bigger ones: Heer (Army), Marine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force) form one unified force, not three separate fighting forces. And two smaller ones: Joint Support Service (Streitkräftebasis) and Central Medical Services (Zentraler Sanitätsdienst).
In peace-time the commander-in-chief is the Federal Minister of Defence, and in wartime the Chancellor of Germany. This is unlike most countries where the head of state is commander in chief.
In March 2012, there were about 207,000 soldiers serving in the Bundeswehr; there are another 200,000 in reserve. Conscription for the Bundeswehr has been abolished in July 2011.
Bundeswehr Media
Bundeswehr Logo Heer with lettering
Bundeswehr Logo Marine with lettering
Bundeswehr Logo Luftwaffe with lettering
Bundeswehr Logo Streitkraeftebasis with lettering
Bundeswehr Logo Sanitaetsdienst with lettering
Emblem of Cyber- und Informationsraum
Generals Adolf Heusinger and Hans Speidel being sworn into the newly founded Bundeswehr by Theodor Blank on 12 November 1955
A Großer Zapfenstreich at the Federal Ministry of Defense in Bonn in 2002
The Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in 1955.
Leopard 2A5 main battle tank during a teaching and combat demonstration. ©Bundeswehr/Modes
A Eurofighter Typhoon of the Luftwaffe
Related pages
Sources
- ↑ "Art 65a Basic Law". Gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "Art 115b Basic Law". Gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 2011-06-07.