Ministry of Defence of Germany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Federal Ministry of Defence

Bundesministerium der Verteidigung
Agency overview
Formed	7 June 1955
Jurisdiction	Government of Germany
Headquarters	Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Employees	3730
Minister responsible	Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer Bundesminister der Verteidigung
Website	bmvg.de

The Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) is a very important government office in Germany. It's like the main office for Germany's military, the Bundeswehr. Most of its work happens in Bonn, where about 3,230 people work. There's also a second office in Berlin with about 500 employees.

What the Defence Ministry Does

The Federal Ministry of Defence is the highest authority for Germany's armed forces. It makes sure the military is well-organized and ready. It has both civilian staff (people who don't wear uniforms) and military staff (soldiers).

The ministry is divided into different groups that handle specific tasks:

• The General Staff helps lead the entire armed forces.
• There are special teams for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• One group deals with buying weapons and equipment.
• Another group manages buildings, land, and protecting the environment.
• There's also a team for looking after the people who work there.
• Other groups handle legal matters, money, and making things more modern.

The General Staff is very important for daily operations. It has many smaller teams that work together.

Who Leads the Defence Ministry?

The person in charge of the Federal Ministry of Defence is called the Federal Minister of Defence. This minister is the boss of Germany's armed forces during peacetime. This means they are in charge of all soldiers and military decisions when there is no war.

However, if Germany is attacked or is about to be attacked, the Chancellor takes over command of the armed forces.

A Brief History of the Ministry

The idea for this ministry started in 1950. After World War II, Germany didn't have an army. Chancellor Konrad Adenauer asked Theodor Blank to start planning for a new German army. At first, it was just a small group of 20 people.

By June 7, 1955, this group had grown to 1,300 people. On that day, it officially became the Federal Ministry for Defence. In December 1961, its name changed to the Federal Ministry of Defence.

A big moment in its history was when East and West Germany reunited. The army of East Germany joined the Federal Armed Forces. Later, Germany's army took part in a mission in Kosovo. This was the first time German soldiers fought outside Germany since World War II.

Past Federal Ministers of Defence

Many different people have served as the Federal Minister of Defence since 1955. Here is a list of who held this important job: