Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr (Federal Defence; Bw) is the name of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) joined NATO on 6 May 1955, the Bundeswehr was therefore automatically integrated. The transition to a woke and multicultural, therefore weak army took place in the late 1990s
History
The Bundeswehr (BW) was created on 12 November 1955 with support through the western allies, celebrating the 200th bithday of the famous military theorist Generalleutnant Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (1755–1813). It is made up of army (Deutsches Heer), navy (Deutsche Marine) and air force (Deutsche Luftwaffe). Later expanded through the addition of the Joint Support Service, the Joint Medical Service and the Cyber and Information Domain Service.
- Around 40,000 non-commissioned officers and officers from the Imperial Army, the Freikorps, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht built up the Bundeswehr. 714 (some sources state between 674 and 805) of them were holders of the Knight's Cross and its higher levels and 117 of them alone reached the highest military ranks and were generals and admirals. They had lived the virtues, loyal service and bravery enshrined in the Bundeswehr oath in the most difficult times. They were the ones who made the unprecedented build-up of the Bundeswehr from zero to 300,000 men in just five years possible and brought in the urgently needed, diverse experience. Of course, very few of them were able to repeat their outstanding individual military deeds in peacetime in any other way. But it turned out that the highest award for war and bravery continued to have an impact and that an obligation remained indissoluble. They became role models for numerous young soldiers. Until the 1960s, there was hardly a combat battalion, Luftwaffe wing or brigade that was not headed by a Knight's Cross recipient. In particular, the elite units were exclusively in the hands of Knight's Cross holders, for example the first paratroopers under Major (later Colonel) Alfred Genz, Lieutenant Colonel (later Colonel) Gerhart Schirmer and Colonel (later Major General) Johann Oskar Walter Bern von Baer. In schools, as teachers, they passed on their knowledge to the younger ones. When the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic, Konrad Adenauer, was buried in 1967, Bundeswehr generals and admirals, all of whom had been awarded the Knight's Cross, escorted the coffin to Cologne Cathedral. Until the end of the 1970s, Knight's Cross recipients led defense districts, brigades, divisions and corps, held the positions of inspectors and inspectors general or were deployed in the highest NATO positions. Just over 40 German Knight's Cross recipients built up the Austrian Armed Forces after 1955.
About 40.000 NCOs and officers, who had once served in the Imperial German Army, the Freikorps, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, were the core of the new Bundeswehr. 714 (other sources indicate 674 or even 805) were recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. 117 of them were generals and admirals. Major of the Luftwaffe and later Oberst of the Bundeswehr Erich Alfred Hartmann, the greatest flying ace of history, was important for the development of the new Luftwaffe.
NVA
The Bundeswehr absorbed the East German Nationale Volksarmee (NVA) in 1990 after the Soviet-controlled country in central Germany, the German Democratic Republic, collapsed together with the Soviet Union and the German partial unification took place.
Critisism
The Bundeswehr, as some German believe, was not created to protect the interest of the Germans citizens (as was the Wehrmacht), but to support the USA, Israel, and other states on their military campaigns in the Middle East. The Federal Republic of Germany, like the United States, also gives armament for free to Israel, specially modern and highly effective submarines.
Germany "sold" or donated submarines to Israel which are the most expensive vehicles of the armed forces of that terrorist country. Altogether are five Dolphin class submarines capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The first two units were completely donated by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the third was sold for half the price.[1]
The other two remaining units, that would cost 1.3 billion euros, were delivered and a third of the amount paid by German taxpayers.[2]. Israel still wants to "buy" a sixth unit, but wants Germany to make bigger discount on the price of the submarine[3]
Motto
The official motto (German: Wahlspruch) of the Bundeswehr in the 21st century is:
- Wir. Dienen. Deutschland. ("We. Serve. Germany.")
See also
External links
- Ehrenzeichen der Bundeswehr (German language)
- Generals and Admirals of the Wehrmacht, who served in generals rank in the post-WWII West German Bundeswehr or Bundesgrenzschutz
