Kommando Spezialkräfte
The KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte (Special Forces Command, KSK) is an elite military unit of Germany. Its soldiers are handpicked from each of the ranks of Germany’s army, the Bundeswehr. The KSK is organised as such under the Division Spezielle Operationen (Special Operations Division, DSO). KSK operators are performing joint anti-terror operations, mostly in the Balkans and Middle East.
Kommando Spezialkräfte | |
---|---|
Active | 1996 (Created) 1997 (Activated)–Present |
Country | Germany |
Branch | German Army |
Type | Special Forces |
Role | Hostage rescue, Airborne operations, Direct Action, Unconventional Warfare, Counter-Insurgency, Anti-Terror, Covert Operations, Intelligence operations |
Size | 1,100 soldiers, 200–300 participating in combat operations |
Part of | Special Operations Division |
Garrison/HQ | Calw, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
Motto(s) | Facit Omnia Voluntas (lat. The will is decisive ) [1] |
Engagements | Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo War Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, Battle of Tora Bora, Operation Anaconda, Counterinsurgency in Northern Afghanistan, ISAF) |
Decorations | United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation for KSK-members of Task Force K-Bar |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Brigadier General (Brigadegeneral) Heinz Feldmann, since September 2010 |
Notable commanders | Brigadier General (Brigadegeneral) Hans-Christoph Ammon |
Kommando Spezialkräfte Media
Heliborne training (2000 ILA Berlin Air Show)
KSK air insertion training (2017)
A German Special Forces soldier lines his sights on a target 500 meters away, and awaits direction from an International Special Training Centre instructor to engage the target. The German soldier was one of 10 troops from four different countries attending the sniper training course offered by the ISTC.
References
- ↑ Reinhard Scholzen: KSK – Das Kommando Spezialkräfte der Bundeswehr, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-613-02384-9, S. 108
Related pages
Other websites
- Media related to Kommando Spezialkräfte at Wikimedia Commons