page_title: Bundeswehr
section_title: Mission
hierarchical_section_title: Bundeswehr / Command organisation / Mission
caption_attribution_description: English: MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan –German Army Soldiers, based out of Camp Marmal, conduct a surveillance of a nearby village, during a daily security patrol, where they met with elders. The patrols ensure safety, security and foster good relations with the Afghans. Official Photo by Petty Officer First Class Ryan Tabios, ISAF HQ Public Affairs
context_page_description: The Bundeswehr is the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities. The states of Germany are not allowed to maintain armed forces of their own, since the German Constitution states that matters of defense fall into the sole responsibility of the federal government. In other words, Germany does not have state-by-state National Guard branches, as is the case in the United States of America.
  The Bundeswehr is divided into a military part and a civil part with the armed forces administration. The military part of the federal defense force consists of the German Army, the German Navy, the German Air Force, the Joint Support Service, the Joint Medical Service, and the Cyber and Information Domain Service.
  As of July 2020, the Bundeswehr has a strength of 185,198 active-duty military personnel and 79,821 civilians, placing it among the 30 largest military forces in the world and making it the second largest in the European Union behind France in terms of personnel. In addition the Bundeswehr has approximately 29,200 reserve personnel.
context_section_description: The role of the Bundeswehr is described in the Constitution of Germany (Art. 87a) as absolutely defensive only. Its only active role before 1990 was the Katastropheneinsatz (disaster control). Within the Bundeswehr, it helped after natural disasters both in Germany and abroad. After 1990, the international situation changed from East-West confrontation to one of general uncertainty and instability.
  Today, after a ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court in 1994 the term "defence" has been defined to not only include protection of the borders of Germany, but also crisis reaction and conflict prevention, or more broadly as guarding the security of Germany anywhere in the world. According to the definition given by former Defence Minister Struck, it may be necessary to defend Germany even at the Hindu Kush. This requires the Bundeswehr to take part in operations outside of the borders of Germany, as part of NATO or the European Union and mandated by the UN.
caption: German Army soldiers in Afghanistan in front of Dingo infantry mobility vehicles, 2009
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