Bundeswehr The Bundeswehr ( German for " Federal Defence " ; ) is the unified armed forces of the Federal Republic 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 . The " Bundeswehr " is divided into a military part ( armed forces or " Streitkräfte " ) and a civil part with the armed forces administration ( " Wehrverwaltung " ) . The military part of the federal defense force consists of the " Heer " ( Army ) , " Marine " ( Navy ) , " Luftwaffe " ( Air Force ) , " Streitkräftebasis " ( Joint Support Service ) , and the " Zentraler Sanitätsdienst " ( Central Medical Services ) branches . The Bundeswehr is among the world ' s most technologically advanced and best - supplied militaries , as befits Germany ' s overall economic prosperity and significant military industry . However , with military spending amounting only to 1 . 3 % of the GDP ( 2011 ) , it is also amongst the lowest budgeted militaries in the world in terms of share of GDP . As of September 2013 , the " Bundeswehr " has a strength of roughly 183 , 000 active troops , making it the 30th largest military force in the world and the fourth largest in the European Union , behind the armed forces of France , Italy and the United Kingdom . In addition the Bundeswehr has approximately 144 , 000 reserve personnel ( 2010 ) . History . Traditions . The " Bundeswehr " was preceded by the old German state armies , then the " Reichswehr " ( 1921 – 1935 ) , and the " Wehrmacht " ( 1935 – 1945 ) . The " Bundeswehr " , however , does not consider itself as their successors and does not follow the traditions of any former German military organisation . The official " Bundeswehr " traditions are based on three major lines : the military reformers at the beginning of the 19th century such as Scharnhorst , Gneisenau , and Clausewitz , the members of the military resistance against Hitler such as Claus von Stauffenberg and Henning von Tresckow and its own tradition since 1955 . As its symbol the " Bundeswehr " uses a form of the Iron Cross . The Iron Cross has a long history , having been awarded as a military wartime decoration for all ranks since 1813 , and earlier associated with the Teutonic knights . The name " Bundeswehr " was proposed by the former Wehrmacht general and Liberal politician Hasso von Manteuffel . One of the most visible traditions is the " Großer Zapfenstreich " , a form of military tattoo that goes back to the landsknecht era . Another expression of the traditions in the German armed forces is the ceremonial vow ( " Gelöbnis " ) of recruits , during basic training . Annually on July 20 , the date of the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler by Wehrmacht officers in 1944 , recruits of the Wachbataillon vow at the Bendlerblock , where the officers had their headquarters but recently the national commemorations in Berlin are now held at the grounds of the Reichstag , and there are similar ones held all over the Federal Republic on that day . The wording of the ceremonial vow of conscripts was and still is ( for full - time recruits and volunteer personnel starting from 2011 onward ) : Professional soldiers and officers of the Bundeswehr have to swear an oath with the same words , but beginning with " Ich schwöre , . . . " ( " I vow to . . . " ) . Cold War 1955 – 1990 . After World War II the responsibility for the security of Germany as a whole rested with the four Allied Powers : the United States , the United Kingdom , France and the Soviet Union . Germany had been without armed forces since the " Wehrmacht " was dissolved following World War II . When the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949 , it was without a military . Germany remained completely demilitarized and any plans for a German military were forbidden by Allied regulations . Only some naval mine - sweeping units continued to exist , but they remained unarmed and under Allied control and did not serve as a national defence force . Even the Federal Border Protection Force , a mobile , lightly armed police force of 10 , 000 men , was only formed in 1951 . A proposal to integrate West German troops with soldiers of France , Belgium , the Netherlands , Luxembourg and Italy in a European Defence Community was proposed but never implemented . There was a discussion between the United States , the United Kingdom and France over the issue of a revived ( West ) German military . In particular , France was reluctant to allow Germany to rearm in light of recent history ( Germany had invaded France twice in living memory , in World War I and World War II , and also defeated France in the Franco - German War of 1870 / 71 ; ( see also French – German enmity ) ) . However , after the project for a European Defence Community failed in the French National Assembly in 1954 , France agreed to West German accession to NATO and rearmament . With growing tensions between the Soviet Union and the West , especially after the Korean War , this policy was to be revised . While the German Democratic Republic ( East Germany ) was already secretly rearming , the seeds of a new West German force started in 1950 when former high - ranking German officers were tasked by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to discuss the options for West German rearmament . The results of a meeting in the monastery of Himmerod formed the conceptual base to build the new armed forces in West Germany . The " Amt Blank " ( Blank Agency , named after its director Theodor Blank ) , the predecessor of the later Federal Ministry of Defense , was formed the same year to prepare the establishment of the future forces . Hasso von Manteuffel , a former general of the " Wehrmacht " and liberal politician , submitted the name " Bundeswehr " for the new forces . This name was later confirmed by the West German " Bundestag " . The " Bundeswehr " was officially established on the 200th birthday of Scharnhorst on 12 November 1955 . In personnel and education terms , the most important initial feature of the new German armed forces was to be their orientation as citizen defenders of a democratic state , fully subordinate to the political leadership of the country . A personnel screening committee was created to make sure that the future colonels and generals of the armed forces were those whose political attitude and experience would be acceptable to the new democratic state . There were a few key reformers , such as General Ulrich de Maiziere , General Graf von Kielmansegg , and Graf von Baudissin , who reemphasised some of the more democratic parts of Germany ’ s armed forces history in order to establish a solid civil - military basis to build upon . After an amendment of the Basic Law in 1955 , West Germany became a member of NATO . The first public military review took place at Andernach , in January 1956 . A US Military Assistance Advisory Group ( MAAG ) helped with the introduction of the Bundeswehr ' s initial equipment and war material , predominantly of American origin . In 1956 , conscription for all men between the ages of 18 and 45 was reintroduced , later augmented by a civil alternative with longer duration ( see Conscription in Germany ) . In response , East Germany formed its own military force , the " Nationale Volksarmee " ( NVA ) , in 1956 , with conscription being established only in 1962 . The " Nationale Volksarmee " was eventually dissolved with the reunification of Germany in 1990 . Compulsory conscription was suspended - but not completely abolished as an alternative - in January 2011 . During the Cold War the " Bundeswehr " was the backbone of NATO ' s conventional defence in Central Europe . It had a strength of 495 , 000 military and 170 , 000 civilian personnel . Although Germany had smaller armed forces than France and the United States , Cold War Historian John Lewis Gaddis assesses the Bundeswehr as " perhaps world ' s best army " . The Army consisted of three corps with 12 divisions , most of them heavily armed with tanks and APCs . The Luftwaffe owned significant numbers of tactical combat aircraft and took part in NATO ' s integrated air defence ( NATINAD ) . The Navy was tasked and equipped to defend the Baltic Approaches , to provide escort reinforcement and resupply shipping in the North Sea and to contain the Soviet Baltic Fleet . During this time the Bundeswehr did not take part in combat operations . However there were a number of large - scale training and operational casualties . The first such incident was in June 1957 , when 15 paratroop recruits were drowned in the Iller river , Bavaria . German Reunification 1990 . After reunification of Germany in 1990 , the Bundeswehr was reduced to 370 , 000 military personnel in accordance with the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany between the two German governments and the Allies ( 2 + 4 Treaty ) . The former East German " Nationale Volksarmee " ( NVA ) was disbanded , with a portion of its personnel and material being absorbed into the Bundeswehr . About 50 , 000 " Volksarmee " personnel were integrated into the " Bundeswehr " on 2 October 1990 . This figure was rapidly reduced as conscripts and short - term volunteers completed their service . A number of senior officers ( but no generals or admirals ) received limited contracts for up to two years to continue daily operations . Personnel remaining in the " Bundeswehr " were awarded new contracts and new ranks , dependent on their individual qualification and experience . Many received and accepted a lower rank than previously held in the " Volksarmee " . In general , the unification process of the two militaries — under the slogan " " Armee der Einheit " " ( or " Army of Unity " ) — has been seen publicly as a major success and an example for other parts of the society . With the reduction , a large amount of the military hardware of the " Bundeswehr " , as well as of the " Volksarmee " , had to be disposed of . Most of the armored vehicles and fighter jet aircraft ( Bundesluftwaffe - due to Reunification - was the only Air Force in the world that flew both : Phantoms and MIGs ) were dismantled under international disarmament procedures . Many ships were scrapped or sold , often to the Baltic states or Indonesia ( the latter received 39 former " Volksmarine " vessels of various types ) . Reorientation . A major event for the German military was the suspension of the compulsory conscription for men in 2011 . In 2011 / 12 , a major reform of the Bundeswehr was announced , further limiting the number of military bases and soldiers . As of December 2012 , the number of active military personnel in the Bundeswehr was down to 191 , 818 , corresponding to a ratio of 2 . 3 active soldiers per 1 , 000 inhabitants . Military expenditure in Germany was at €31 . 55 billion in 2011 , corresponding to 1 . 2 % of GDP . Both the number of active soldiers and the military expenditure places Germany below comparable countries of the European Union such as France and the United Kingdom . While this is already true in absolute terms , the difference is even more pronounced when taking into account Germany ' s larger population and economy . This discrepancy is often criticized by Germany ' s military allies , especially the United States . Command organization . With the growing number of missions abroad it was recognized that the " Bundeswehr " required a new command structure . A reform commission under the chairmanship of the former President Richard von Weizsäcker presented its recommendations in spring 2000 . In October 2000 the Joint Support Service , the " Streitkräftebasis " , was established to concentrate logistics and other supporting functions such as military police , supply and communications under one command . Medical support was reorganized with the establishment of the Central Medical Services . The combat forces of the Army are organized into five combat division s and participate in multi - national command structures at the corps level . The Air Force maintains three divisions and the Navy is structured into two flotillas . The Joint Support Service and the Central Medical Services are both organized in four regional commands of identical structure . All of these services also have general commands for training , procurement , and other general issues . The minister of defense or the chancellor is supported by the Chief of Defense ( CHOD , " Generalinspekteur " ) and the service chiefs ( " Inspekteure " ) and their respective staffs in his or her function as commander - in - chief . The CHOD and the service chiefs form the Military Command Council ( " Militärischer Führungsrat " ) with functions similar to those of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States . Subordinate to the CHOD is the Armed Forces Operational Command ( " Einsatzführungskommando " ) . For smaller missions one of the service HQs ( e . g . the Fleet Command ) may exercise command and control of forces in missions abroad . The " Bundestag " must approve any deployment abroad by a simple majority . This has led to some discontent with Germany ' s allies about troop deployments e . g . in Afghanistan since parliamentary consent over such issues is relatively hard to achieve in Germany . Mission . 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 " defense " 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 Defense 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 . Operations . Since the early 1990s the " Bundeswehr " has become more and more engaged in international operations in and around the former Yugoslavia , and also in other parts of the world like Cambodia or Somalia . After the September 11 , 2001 attacks , German forces were employed in most related theaters except Iraq . Currently ( September 11 , 2013 ) there are " Bundeswehr " forces in : The actual number of troops serving in an abroad deployment complies with the requirements of the current security situation . In addition to the numbers above , forty soldiers are on permanent stand - by for medical evacuation operations around the world in assistance of ongoing German or coalition operations ( STRATAIRMEDEVAC ) . In support of Allied stabilization efforts in Iraq , the " Bundeswehr " is also training the new Iraqi forces in locations outside Iraq , such as the United Arab Emirates and Germany . Since 1994 , the " Bundeswehr " has lost about 100 troops in deployments abroad . " See also : German Armed Forces casualties in Afghanistan . Equipment . According to the new threat scenario facing Germany and its NATO allies , the " Bundeswehr " is currently reorganising itself . To realise growth in mobility and the enlargement of the air force ' s capabilities , the " Bundeswehr " is going to buy 60 Airbus A400M transports as well as 180 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and also several unmanned aerial vehicle models . For the ground forces it plans to upgrade to Leopard 2 A7 main battle tank , developing a land soldier system and a new generation of transportation vehicles and light vehicles , such as the Fennek , the Boxer MRAV , KMW Grizzly , or the Puma ( IFV ) . Further , the German Navy is going to build new corvette s ( dubbed K131 ) , the new F125 class frigate s , two Joint Support Ships and two more Type 212 submarine s . Appearance . Uniforms . The service uniform is theoretically the standard type of Bundeswehr uniform for general duty and off - post activity , most associated , however , with ceremonial occasions . The army ' s service uniform consists of a light gray , single - breasted coat and darker gray trousers , worn with a light blue shirt , black tie , and black shoes . The peaked , visored cap has been replaced by the beret as the most common form of headgear . Dress uniforms featuring dinner jackets or double - breasted coats are worn by officers for various social occasions . The battle and work uniform consists of Flecktarn camouflage fatigues , which are also worn on field duty . In practice , they are also used for general duty and off - post at least at barracks where there is also field duty even by others , and for the way home or to the post , and generally regarded as " the " Heer uniform . In all three services , light sand - colored uniforms are available for duty in warmer climates . A different , traditional variety of the service uniform is worn by the " Gebirgsjäger " ( mountain infantry ) , consisting of ski jacket , stretch trousers , and ski boots . Instead of the beret , they wear the grey " mountain cap " . ( see here for details . ) The field uniform is the same , except for the ( optional ) metal Edelweiss worn on the forage cap . The traditional arm - of - service colors appear as lapel facings and as piping on shoulder straps . Generals wear an inner piping of gold braid ; other officers wear silver piping . Lapel facings and piping are maroon for general staff , green for infantry , red for artillery , pink for armor , black for engineers , yellow for communications , dark yellow for reconnaissance and various other colors for the remaining branches . Combat troops wear green ( infantry ) , black ( armor ) , or maroon ( airborne ) berets . Logistics troops and combat support troops , such as artillery or engineers , wear red berets . A gold or silver badge on the beret denotes the individual branch of service . The naval forces wear the traditional navy blue , double - breasted coat and trousers ; enlisted personnel wear either a white shirt or a navy blue shirt with the traditional navy collar . White uniforms provide an alternative for summer . The officer ' s dress cap is mounted with a gold anchor surrounded by a wreath . The visor of the admiral ' s cap bears a double row of oak leaves . The air force service uniform consists of a blue jacket and trousers with a light blue shirt , dark blue tie , and black shoes . Olive battle dress similar to the army fatigue uniform is worn in basic training and during other field duty . Flying personnel wear wings on their right breast . Other air force personnel wear a modified wing device with a symbol in its center denoting service specialization . These " Tätigkeitsabzeichen " come in bronze , silver , or gold , depending on one ' s length of service in the specialty . Wings , superimposed over a wreath , in gold , silver , or bronze , depending on rank , are also worn on the service or field cap . Ranks . In general , officer ranks are those used in the Prussian and pre - 1945 German armies . Officer rank insignia are worn on shoulder straps or shoulder boards . Army ( " Heer " ) and air force ( " Luftwaffe " ) junior officers ' insignia are four pointed silver stars while field grade officers wear silver ( black or white on camouflage uniforms ) stars and an oak wreath around the lowest star . The stars and wreath are gold for general officers . In the case of naval ( " Marine " ) officers , rank is indicated by gold stripes on the lower sleeve of the blue service jacket and on shoulder boards of the white uniform . Soldier and NCO ranks are similar to those of the Prussian and pre - 1945 German armies . In the army and air force , a Gefreiter corresponds to the NATO rank OR - 2 and Hauptgefreiter to OR - 3 . An Unteroffizier is the lowest - ranking sergeant ( OR - 5 ) , followed by Stabsunteroffizier ( OR - 6 ) , Feldwebel and Oberfeldwebel ( OR - 7 ) , Hauptfeldwebel ( OR - 8 ) , Stabsfeldwebel ( OR - 9 ) and Oberstabsfeldwebel . Ranks of army and air force enlisted personnel are designated by stripes , chevrons , and " sword knots " worn on rank slides . Naval enlisted rank designations are worn on the upper ( OR 1 - 5 ) or lower ( OR - 6 and above ) sleeve along with a symbol based on an anchor for the service specialization ( rating ) . Army and air force officer candidates hold the separate ranks of Fahnenjunker , Fähnrich and Oberfähnrich , and wear the appropriate rank insignia plus a silver cord bound around it . Officers candidates in the navy Seekadett ( " sea cadet " ; equivalent to OR - 4 ) and Fähnrich zur See ( " midshipman second class " ; OR - 5 ) wear the rank insignia of the respective enlisted ranks but with a gold star instead of the rating symbol , while an Oberfähnrich zur See ( " midshipman first class " ; OR - 7 ) wears an officer type thin rank stripe . Medical personnel of all three services wear a version of the traditional caduceus ( staff with entwined serpents ) on their shoulder straps or sleeve . The officers ' ranks have own designations differing from the line officers , the rank insignias however are basically the same . Women . Women have served in the medical service since 1975 . From 1993 to 2000 , they were also allowed to serve as enlisted personnel and non - commissioned officers in the medical service and the army bands . In 2000 , in a lawsuit brought up by Tanja Kreil , the European Court of Justice issued a ruling allowing women to serve in more roles than previously allowed . Since 2001 they can serve in all functions of service without restriction , but they were not subject to conscription . There are presently around 14 , 500 women on active duty and a number of female reservists who take part in all duties including peacekeeping missions and other operations . In 1994 , Verena von Weymarn became Generalarzt der Luftwaffe ( " Surgeon General of the Air Force " ) , the first woman ever to reach the rank of general in the armed forces of Germany . " Enlisted " Rank structure . " Non - commissioned officers " " Officer Cadets " " Officers " " Enlisted " " Non - commissioned officers " " Officer cadets " " Officers "