Bundeswehr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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 after declaration of state of defence: Chancellor Angela Merkel
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.)

The Bundeswehr is the official name for Germany's armed forces. It means "Federal Defence Force" in German. The Bundeswehr protects Germany and its people. It is a single, unified force, not separate armies for different parts of Germany.

How is the Bundeswehr Organized?

The Bundeswehr has five main parts. Three are larger fighting forces:

• The Heer (Army)
• The Marine (Navy)
• The Luftwaffe (Air Force)

These three work together as one team. They are not separate fighting groups.

There are also two smaller parts that help the main forces:

• The Joint Support Service (Streitkräftebasis)
• The Central Medical Services (Zentraler Sanitätsdienst)

These services make sure the soldiers have what they need. They also provide medical care.

Who Leads the Bundeswehr?

In times of peace, the leader of the Bundeswehr is the Federal Minister of Defence. This person is in charge of the military.

If Germany were ever in a state of defence or war, the Chancellor of Germany would become the commander-in-chief. This is different from many countries where the head of state is always the commander.

How Many Soldiers are There?

In March 2012, about 207,000 soldiers were serving in the Bundeswehr. These are active soldiers.

Germany also has about 200,000 reserve soldiers. These are people who have served before and can be called upon if needed.

Conscription means that young people are required to join the military. Germany stopped requiring young people to join the Bundeswehr in July 2011. Now, joining the Bundeswehr is voluntary.

Related pages

• NATO
• Luftwaffe
• Wehrmacht

Images for kids

• 

  A Großer Zapfenstreich at the Federal Ministry of Defense in Bonn in 2002

• 

  Generals Adolf Heusinger and Hans Speidel being sworn into the newly founded Bundeswehr by Theodor Blank on 12 November 1955

• 

  The Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in 1955.

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  Leopard 2 tanks

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  The Bundeswehr was the first NATO member to use the Soviet-built MiG 29 jet, taken over from the former East German Air Force after reunification.

• 

  Christine Lambrecht, Minister of Defence

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  A German Navy Sachsen-class frigate

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  German Army soldiers in Afghanistan in front of Dingo infantry mobility vehicles, 2009

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  Frigate Karlsruhe of the German Navy rescuing shipwrecked people off the coast of Somalia where it is patrolling

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  German Army signallers in service uniforms

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  A German infantryman stands at the ready with his Heckler & Koch G36 during a practice exercise in 2004 as U.S. troops watch in the background. All rifles in the photo are equipped with blank firing adapters.

• 

  NH90 helicopter

• 

  Boxer MRAV

• 

  Airbus A400M

See also

In Spanish: Bundeswehr para niños