Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr is the professional
Contents
History
At the time of unification, the constituent kingdoms' had independent armies. Joining the command structures was a slow process. The emperor was ceremonially the commander-in-chief (oberster kriegsherr), but exercised significant power during this transition.
Following World War 1, the Weimar Republic re-established a limited armed force in the Reichswehr, overseen by a ministry of the Reichswehr (Reichswehrministerium).
Hitler reformed the Reichswehr into the Wehrmacht. The civilian ministry was replaced with the High Command (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, OKW). This enitre complex was dissolved following World War 2.
When West Germany joined NATO, it re-established armed forces in the Bundeswehr.
For East Germany, the USSR established the Barracked People's Police (Kasernierte Volkspolizei, KVP) in 1948. Only in reaction to West Germany accession into NATO did they permit the reformation of a National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee, NVA).
Composition
Army
The Reichsheer was established directly by the Constitution of the German Empire.
The Prussian general staff seemlessly became the German general staff (großer generalstab), led by a chief of the general staff. A military cabinet (militärkabinett) reporting to the emperor administered the army. The chain of command was headed by the supreme army command (oberste heeresleitung, OHL).
In 1935, Hitler re-established the Heer, part of the Wehrmacht. The chain of command was headed by the upper command of the army (oberkommando des Heeres, OKH). Officially, the oberkommando der Wehrmacht oversaw the OKH; in practice they competed for power. This entire complex was dissolved following World War 2.
When West Germany joined NATO, it re-established the Heer. The rearmament was administered clandestinely by the Blank Office (Amt Blank), which then became the Ministry of Defense. The Army staff (führungsstab des Heeres, FüH) was led by the inspector of the Army (inspekteur des Heeres, InspH). The Army Office (Heeresamt) administered the service.
The USSR in parallel established the Land Forces (Landstreitkräfte) in East Germany, part of the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA).
The modern Heer largely follows from the West German complex. In 1994, an Army forces command (Heeresführungskommando) was established to coordinate between NATO command and the Army staff. In 2013, the chain of command was reformed; an inspector general of the Bundeswehr (generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr, GenInspBw) was placed over the inspector of the Army; administrative and command duties unified under Army Command (Kommando Heer, Kdo H).
Navy
An imperial navy (kaiserliche marine) was established in 1872 under the command of the imperial admiralty (kaiserliche admiralität) and a minister of state.
Wilhelm II twice reformed the command structure. In 1888, power was divided; the imperial admiralty was dissolved; imperial naval high command (kaiserliches oberkommando der marine) took over command; a naval cabinet (marinekabinett) reporting to the emperor took over administrative duties; and an imperial naval office (reichsmarineamt) was established to oversee command for the minister. In 1898, power was stripped from the professional admiralty; high command was replaced by an admiralty staff (admiralstab).
Following World War 1, the Weimar Republic re-established the navy in the Reichsmarine, part of the Reichswehr, and led by the chief of the naval command (chef der marineleitung).
In 1935, Hitler reformed the navy into the Kriegsmarine, part of the Wehrmacht. This was dissolved following World War 2.
When West Germany joined NATO, it re-established the navy in the Bundesmarine. It was overseen by the Ministry of Defense. The Naval staff (führungsstab des Marine, FüM) was led by the inspector of the Navy (inspekteur des Marine, InspM). The Navy Office (Marineamt) administered the service.
In reaction, the USSR reformed the KVP into a The USSR in parallel established the Volksmarine in East Germany.
Following re-unification, the two navies were joined into the Deutsche Marine. In 2013, the chain of command was reformed; an inspector general of the Bundeswehr (generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr, GenInspBw) was placed over the inspector of the Navy; administrative and command duties unified under Navy Command (Marinekommando, MarKdo).
Air Force
The first air force of Germany was established in 1910 as the Luftstreitkräfte. It was administered as part of the Reichsheer.\
In 1935, Hitler re-established the air force as the Luftwaffe, part of the Wehrmacht. This was dissolved following World War 2.
When West Germany joined NATO, it re-established the Luftwaffe. It was overseen by the Ministry of Defense. The Luftwaffe staff (führungsstab des Luftwaffe, FüL) was led by the inspector of the Luftwaffe (inspekteur des Marine, InspL). The Luftwaffe Office (Luftwaffeamt) administered the service. There have also been successive command structures in the Luftflottenkommando and Luftwaffenführungskommando (LwFüKdo).
In 2013, the chain of command was reformed; an inspector general of the Bundeswehr (generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr, GenInspBw) was placed over the inspector of the Navy; administrative and command duties unified under Navy Command (Marinekommando, MarKdo).