German Army

German Army
Bundeswehr · Public domain · source
Unit name	German Army
Native name	Deutsches Heer
Caption	Emblem of the German Army
Start date	12 November 1955
Country	Germany
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	62,766 (April 2024)
Command structure	Bundeswehr
Garrison	Strausberg
Garrison label	Army Command
Motto	Schützen, helfen, vermitteln, kämpfen, ("Protect, help, moderate, fight")
Anniversaries	12 November
Battles	Operation Deliberate Force, Kosovo War, War in Afghanistan, Mali War, Support to Ukraine
Commander1	Inspector of the Army
Commander1 label	Current, commander
Identification symbol label	Flag

German Army. The Deutsches Heer is the land component of the Bundeswehr, the unified armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Established during the Cold War in 1955, its primary mission is the territorial defense of Germany and its NATO allies. The army has evolved from a focus on conventional warfare against the Warsaw Pact to a modern, deployable force engaged in international crisis management and stabilization operations.

History

The modern German Army was founded in the wake of the Treaty of Paris (1954) and German rearmament, becoming operational within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization framework. Its early structure and doctrine were heavily influenced by the United States Army and aimed at countering the massive armored forces of the Soviet Union and the National People's Army of East Germany. Following the German reunification in 1990, the army absorbed select elements and equipment from the former East German Land Forces. The post-Cold War era saw a significant shift, with the army participating in its first combat operations since World War II during the Yugoslav Wars, including deployments to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Major commitments followed in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) under the International Security Assistance Force and later Resolute Support Mission, as well as in United Nations and European Union missions such as those in Mali and Lithuania.

Structure

The army is commanded by the Inspector of the Army headquartered in Strausberg, under the broader authority of the Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany). Its combat forces are organized into two divisions: the 1st Panzer Division, with its command in Oldenburg, and the 10th Panzer Division, commanded from Veitshöchheim. These divisions oversee a mix of armored, mechanized infantry, light infantry, and airborne brigades. Key brigades include the 37th Panzergrenadier Brigade in Frankenberg, the Panzerlehrbrigade 9 in Munster, and the Luftlandebrigade 1 in Saarlouis. Specialized commands include the Division Schnelle Kräfte for special operations and the Kommando Heer for training and support functions, with major training centers located at the Infanterieschule in Hammelburg and the Panzertruppenschule in Munster.

Equipment

The army's main battle tank is the modernized Leopard 2, specifically the Leopard 2A7V and Leopard 2A6 variants. The primary infantry fighting vehicle is the Puma, which is gradually replacing the older Marder. Armored reconnaissance is conducted with the Fennek and the Boxer in various configurations. Artillery systems include the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer and the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. The Eurocopter Tiger serves as the primary attack helicopter, while medium transport is provided by the NHIndustries NH90 and the venerable UH-60 Black Hawk. Individual soldier equipment is centered around the G36 assault rifle, which is being succeeded by the Haenel MK 556 as part of the System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr program.

Operations

Since the 1990s, the army has been continuously deployed on international operations. It played a key role in KFOR following the Kosovo War and was a major troop contributor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, with major bases in Kunduz and Mazar-i-Sharif. The army has also contributed to the European Union Training Mission in Mali and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the army has been pivotal in coordinating and delivering significant military aid, including Leopard 2 tanks, Marder vehicles, and PzH 2000 howitzers. Furthermore, it leads the NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup in Lithuania and participates in the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.

Organization

The army's personnel consist of professional soldiers, temporary-career volunteers, and conscripts, with the latter being a dormant institution that could be reactivated. Career progression and specialist training are managed through a network of schools under the Kommando Heer. The army maintains close integration with the Joint Support Service and the Joint Medical Service for logistics and medical support. Its command and control systems are increasingly networked to operate within the NATO framework, ensuring interoperability with allies like the French Army and the United States Army Europe and Africa. The ongoing restructuring under projects like the Schwerpunktbildung aims to create more deployable and capable divisions in direct response to the security landscape following the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Category:Military of Germany Germany