GERMAN ARMY

The 'German Army' (German: '''Deutsches Heer''', [IPA: heɐ] ) is the land component of the ''Bundeswehr'' ("Federal Defence Forces") of the Federal Republic of Germany. Traditionally, the German military forces have been composed of the Army, the Navy, and after the First World War, the Air Force. The ''Heer'' was re-formed in the 1950s as the West German Army as part of the ''Bundeswehr''. In October 1990, upon the reunification of Germany, the East German army, the ''National People's Army'' '(NVA)', was integrated into the now unified force.
The German word ''Heer'' means simply "army". The term is not restricted to any particular country, so "''das britische Heer''" would mean "the British army".

Contents

History

Overview

Pre-1914

World War I 1914–1918

Reichswehr 1918–1935

Wehrmacht 1935–1945

Current Army

Structure

German Army Command

German Army Office (''Heeresamt'')

Corps

Signal Corps

Army Reconnaissance Corps

Armoured Corps

Infantry

Special Forces

Artillery Corps

Army Air Defence Corps

Army Aviators Corps

Engineer Corps

NBC Corps

Logistics Corps

Weapons

Standard Light Weapons

Reconnaissance Systems

Combat vehicles

Artillery

Air Defence Systems

Engineer Equipment

Aircraft inventory

Logistic Equipment

Non-combat vehicles

Reference

See also

External links

Historical Links

History

Overview

Since Germany first became a modern unified state in 1871, previous names of German unified military forces have included:

★ 1919–1935 ''Reichswehr'' ("Empire Defence" and "Empire Defence Force") consisting of the ''Reichsheer'' (Army) and the ''Reichsmarine'' (Navy);

★ 1935–1945 ''Wehrmacht'' ("Defence Force") consisting of the ''Wehrmacht Heer'' (Army), ''Kriegsmarine'' (Navy), and ''Luftwaffe'' (Air Force);

★ West Germany

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★ 1955–October 1990 Bundeswehr ("Federal Defence Forces") (West Germany) consisting of the ''Heer'', ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) and ''Luftwaffe'';

★ East Germany

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★ 1956–October 1990 ''Nationale Volksarmee'' ("National People's Army"), consisting of the ''Landstreitkräfte'' (Land Forces), ''Grenztruppen der DDR'' (Border Troops of the GDR), ''Luftstreitkräfte / Luftverteidigung'' (Air Forces / Air Defence) and the ''Volksmarine'' (People's Navy)

★ October 1990–present Bundeswehr: ''Deutsches Heer'', ''Deutsche Marine'' and ''Deutsche Luftwaffe''.

Pre-1914

Main articles: German Army (German Empire)

After the reform movement of the German Army after a series of disasterous defeats at the hands of her enemies in the 18th Century, internal analysis of the lessons learned had informed German civilian and military leadership, that while individual soldiers were first rate, command structures, staff organization and generalship was a hit-and-miss affair, more dependent on the martial skills of the individual members of the German nobility from the Kings on down who dominated the military profession. Too often, military talent was brought together only after the Nation faced a crisis. There was little effective organizational work in between wars. The rise of the German General Staff, an institution that sought to institutionalize military excellence, brought the German Army back from years of atropy and the humiliation of Napoleon's capture of Berlin. With a membership in the officer corps extended to all qualified German speaking men via national examinations, the improved education of the military schools, the intensive selection process of the top 1% of graduated from the Kriegsacademie, with its new rising class of top notch and world class leaders, the German Army was set on a course of eventual near total dominance in Europe.
Following the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo the Prussian Kingdom had years of military successes in the 19th and 20th centuries. Every able bodied man between the ages of 17 and 45 was liable for military service. There were 4 classes of service; Active (Aktiv), Reserve, Landwehr and Landsturm. The ''Landwehr'' and ''Landsturm'' were only called up at times of war. The basic unit of the army at this time was the Regiment. Regiments were typically raised and supported by a specific city or region. Each regiment was then stationed near its home city. The Reserve regiment was often made up of past members of the local regiment. The ''Landwehr'' and ''Landsturm'' units were also organized the same way. An individual could spend all 22 years of military service surrounded by their friends and family. This created close ties within regiments, however, because of this system, the entire population of young men from a city or region could be wiped out in one battle.

World War I 1914–1918

The German army that fought in World War I was not in fact a single, unitary army. The four German kingdoms that existed prior to the unification of Germany in January 1871, Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony and Württemberg, each retained their own army upon unification. Prussia had the largest army of the four. After the unification and the formation of the German Empire, the Prussian army became the nucleus of the Army of the German Empire (''Deutsches Reichsheer''). By 1914 the German army fielded 50 active divisions and by 1918 251 divisions had been created.

Reichswehr 1918–1935

Main articles: Reichswehr

Following the end of World War I and the collapse of the German Empire most of the German army (Heer) was demobilized or simply dissolved. Many former soldiers drifted into small armed groups known as Freikorps. The ''Freikorps'' were generally groups of 100 men or fewer that protected a neighbourhood or town. On March 6th, 1919 an army known as the ''Vorläufige Reichswehr'' (Provisional German Defence Force) was formed with about 400,000 men, many drawn form the ''Freikorps''. Then, in September 30, 1919 the ''Übergangsheer'' (Transitional Army) was created from the Defence Force and the ''Freikorps''. Finally, on January 1, 1921 the 100,000 man ''Reichswehr'' was formed with 7 Infantry Divisions and 3 Cavalry Divisions. It was the ''Reichswehr'' who crushed Adolf Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch in Munich in November 1923.

Wehrmacht 1935–1945

Main articles: Wehrmacht

Under the Treaty of Versailles, the ''Reichswehr'' was only allowed 100,000 men split between the Army and the Navy. Following the 1932 German elections the Nazi party came to power and began to abrogate the treaty. The Army was made part of the ''Wehrmacht'' in May 1935 with the passing of the "Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defence Forces". The ''Wehrmacht'' included not just the Army and Navy but also a third branch known as the ''Luftwaffe''. Initially, the Army was expanded to 21 divisional-sized units and smaller formations. Between 1935 and 1945 this force grew to consist of hundreds of divisions and thousands of smaller supporting units. Between 1939 and 1945 close to 16 million served in the Army. Over 1.6 million were killed and over 4.1 million were wounded. Of the 7,361 men awarded the initial grade of the highest Nazi combat honour of WWII, the Knight's Cross, 4,777 were from the Army, making up 65% of the total awarded. The German Army commited and was implicated in widespread war crimes including assisting in the genocide of European Jews and other peoples during the Holocaust. The Allies dissolved the German Army on 20 August 1946.

Current Army

The Bundeswehr Heer was founded in 1955 as the army of West Germany. After 1990, it absorbed the army of socialist East Germany which was called the ''Landstreitkräfte'' (terrestrial armed forces), a part of Nationale Volksarmee.

Structure

The German Army is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (''Inspekteur des Heeres'') in the Federal Ministry of Defence in Berlin and Bonn. The major commands are the German Army Command in Koblenz and the German Army Office in Cologne.

German Army Command

The German Army Command in Koblenz ('Heeresführungskommando') leads all combat units (three armoured/mechanized divisions, two special divisions and one independent brigade). It is commanded by a Lieutenant General.
''(Current Structure)''

★ 'Army Command'

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★ HQ Company

★ 'Franco-German Brigade'

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★ HQ Company

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★ 3ème Régiment de Hussards

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★ Light Infantry Battalion 292

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★ 110ème Régiment d’Infanterie

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★ Mixed Artillery Battalion 295

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★ Armoured Engineer Company 550

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★ Support Battalion

★ 'Division Intervention Forces/ 1st Armoured Division'

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 1

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★ Artillery Regiment 100

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★ Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 131

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★ Rocket Artillery Battalion 132

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★ Engineer Regiment 1

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★ Heavy Engineer Battalion 130

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★ Armoured Engineer Battalion 1

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★ Air Defence Regiment 6

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★ Signal Regiment 1

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★ Reconnaissance Battalion 3

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★ NBC Battalion 7

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★ Logistics Battalion 3

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★ Light NBC Company 610

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★ Light Air Defence Battery 610

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★ '''Mechanized Infantry Brigade 1''' (To be disbanded within 2007)

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★ HQ Company

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 421 (To be disbanded July 1st, 2007)

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★ '''Armoured Brigade 9 (Training)'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Armoured Battalion 33

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★ Armoured Battalion 93

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 92

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★ Armoured Artillery Battalion 325

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★ Armoured Reconnaissance Company 90

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★ Armoured Engineer Company 90

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★ Logistics Battalion 141

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★ '''Armoured Brigade 21'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Armoured Battalion 203

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 212

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★ Armoured Artillery Battalion 215

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★ Armoured Reconnaissance Company 210

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★ Armoured Engineer Company 200

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★ Logistics Battalion 7

★ '10th Armoured Division'

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 2

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★ '''Mechanized Infantry Brigade 30'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 294

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★ Armoured Artillery Battalion 345

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★ '''Armoured Brigade 12'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Armoured Battalion 104

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 112

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 122

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★ Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 8

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★ Engineer Battalion 4

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★ Signal Battalion 4

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★ Logistics Battalion 4

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★ '''Mountain Brigade 23'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Mountain Infantry Battalion 231

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★ Mountain Infantry Battalion 232

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★ Mountain Infantry Battalion 233

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★ Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion 230

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★ Mountain Engineer Battalion 8

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★ Mountain Signal Battalion 210

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★ Mountain Logistic Battalion 8


★ '13th Mechanized Infantry Division'

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 10

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★ Reserve Engineer Bridge Battalion 270

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★ Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 13

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★ '''Mechanized Infantry Brigade 37'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Armoured Battalion 303

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★ Light Infantry Battalion 371

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 393

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★ Mountain Infantry Battalion 571

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★ Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 13

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★ Armoured Engineer Battalion 701

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★ Signal Battalion 701

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★ Logistics Battalion 131

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★ '''Mechanized Infantry Brigade 41'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Armoured Battalion 413

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★ Armoured Engineer Battalion 803

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 401

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 411

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★ Logistics Battalion 142

★ '14th Mechanized Infantry Division' (To be disbanded 2008)

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 14

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★ '''Amoured Brigade 18'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Armoured Artillery Battalion 515

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★ Mechanized Infantry Battalion 182

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★ Signal Battalion 610

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★ Signal Battalion 801

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★ Armored Reconnaissance Battalion 6

★ 'Special Operations Division'

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 300

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★ Airborne Signal Battalion

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★ Long Range Reconnaissance Company 200

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★ Light Air Defence Battery 100

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★ '''Special Forces Command'''

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★ '''Airborne Brigade 26'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Paratrooper Battalion 261

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★ Paratrooper Battalion 263

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★ Airborne Reconnaissance Company 260

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★ Airborne Engineer Company 260

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★ Airborne Support Battalion 262

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★ '''Airborne Brigade 31'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Paratrooper Battalion 313

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★ Paratrooper Battalion 373

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★ Airborne Reconnaissance Company 310

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★ Airborne Engineer Company 270

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★ Airborne Support Battalion 272

★ 'Airmobile Operations Division'

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 12

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★ Signal Battalion

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★ Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15

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★ Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 25

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★ Aviation Transport Regiment 30

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★ '''Airmobile Brigade 1'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Aviation Reconnaissance Squadron 100

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★ Aviation Support Squadron 1

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★ Aviation Mechanic Squadron 1

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★ Light Infantry Regiment 1

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★ Attack Helicopter Regiment 26

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★ Attack Helicopter Regiment 36

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★ Aviation Transport Regiment 10

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★ '''Aviation Brigade 3'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ '''Amoured Brigade 14'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Signal Battalion 820

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★ Amoured Battalion 64

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★ Amoured Engineer Company 200

★ 'Army Troops Command'

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★ HQ Company

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★ Army Band 300

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★ '''NBC Brigade 100'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ NBC Regiment 750

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★ NBC Battalion 610

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★ NBC Battalion 805

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★ '''Artillery Brigade 100'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Rocket Artillery Battalion 132

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★ Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 71

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★ Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 121

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★ Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion 131

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★ 'Field Signal Intelligence Centre of the Army'

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★ '''Air Defence Brigade 100'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Air Defence Battalion 6

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★ Air Defence Battalion 12

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★ Air Defence Battalion 131

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★ '''Engineer Brigade 100'''

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★ HQ Company

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★ Heavy Engineer Battalion 130

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★ Engineer Battalion 140

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★ Armoured Enginer Battalion 1

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★ Light NBC Company 120

★ 'Intervention Forces Operative Guidance Command'

★ 'I. German/Dutch Corps'

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★ HQ Company (German shares)

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★ Signal Battalion (German shares)

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★ HQ Support Battalion (German shares)

★ 'Eurocorps'

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★ HQ Company (German shares)

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★ ''Corps Support Brigade''

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★ Signal Battalion (German shares)

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★ HQ Support Battalion (German shares)

★ 'Multinational Corps North East'

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★ HQ Company (German shares)

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★ Signal Battalion (German shares)

German Army Office (''Heeresamt'')

The German Army Office in Cologne is responsible for the administration, education, training and logistics of the German Army. It is commanded by a lieutenant general or a major general.
:''Schools, training centres and miscellaneous offices:''

★ Airborne Operations and Air Transport School (''Luftlande- und Lufttransportschule'') in Altenstadt (Schongau)

★ Armoured Corps School (''Panzertruppenschule'') in Munster, Lower Saxony

★ Army Air Defence School (''Heeresflugabwehrschule'') in Rendsburg

★ Army Aviators School (''Heeresfliegerwaffenschule'') in Bückeburg

★ Army Combat Simulation Centre (''Gefechtssimulationszentrum des Heeres'') in Wildflecken

★ Army Combat Training Centre (''Gefechtsübungszentrum des Heeres'') in Letzlingen

★ Army Logistics Centre (''Logistikzentrum des Heeres'') in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler

★ Army NCO Academy (''Unteroffizierschule des Heeres'') in Münster, Delitzsch, and Weiden in der Oberpfalz

★ Army Officers' School (''Offizierschule des Heeres'') in Dresden

★ Army Tactics Centre (''Taktikzentrum des Heeres'') in Dresden

★ Army Technical School (''Technische Schule des Heeres und Fachschule des Heeres für Technik'') in Aachen

★ Artillery School (''Artillerieschule'') in Idar-Oberstein

★ Infantry School (''Infanterieschule'') in Hammelburg

★ Mountain and Winter Combat School (''Gebirgs- und Winterkampfschule'') in Mittenwald

★ NBC Defence School (''ABC- und Selbstschutzschule'') in Sonthofen

★ Sappers' School and Army Technical School for Structural Engineering (''Pionierschule und Fachschule des Heeres für Bautechnik'') in Munich

★ International Special Training Center (''Ausbildungszentrum Spezielle Operationen'') in Pfullendorf

Corps

In the German Army, unlike in the armies of its neighbours (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark), there are no individual regiments. Instead, individual battalions of infantry, armour, artillery etc are given unique numbers.
The German Army distinguishes 11 different branches of service or corps, known as 'Truppengattungen'. Each corps is responsible for education and training of its units, mostly by its own schools or training centres.

Signal Corps

Units of the signal corps ('Fernmeldetruppe') are responsible for communication, strategic reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Most units of the signal corps belong to the Joint Support Centre ('Streitkräftebasis').

Signal Corps
Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 4
Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 200
Gebirgsfernmeldebataillon 210
Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 701
Stabs- und Fernmeldebataillon 801
Stabs- und Fernmelderegiment 1
Führungsunterstützungsbataillon DLO
Luftlandefernmeldebataillon DSO

Army Reconnaissance Corps

During Army Transformation, the armoured reconnaissance corps ('Panzeraufklärungstruppe') was given the new name 'Heeresaufklärungstruppe'. The reason is that the original task of the armoured reconnaissance corps has changed. Today they need artillery drones or specialists from military intelligence units.

Army Reconnaissance Corps
Aufklärungskompanie 90
Aufklärungskompanie 210
Luftlandeaufklärungskompanie 260
Luftlandeaufklärungskompanie 310
Fernspählehrkompanie 200
Aufklärungsbataillon 3
Aufklärungsbataillon 6
Aufklärungsbataillon 8
Aufklärungsbataillon 13
Gebirgsaufklärungsbataillon 230

The army reconnaissance corps is equipped with Fennek, Luchs, Wiesel 1, the drone reconnaissance system KZO, ALADIN and LunaX, the radar system BÜR (Bodenüberwachungradar), Fuchs and Dingo.
A typical reconnaissance battalion ('Aufklärungsbataillon') is structured in a HQ & support company, two or three armoured reconnaissance companies, a drone reconnaissance company and a separate military intelligence platoon.

Armoured Corps

The armoured corps ('Panzertruppen') are armoured units ('Panzertruppe'), equipped with main battle tanks, and mechanized infantry units ('Panzergrenadiertruppe') equipped with IFVs.

Armoured Units	Mechanized Units
Panzerbatallion 33	Panzergrenadierlehrbataillon 92
Panzerlehrbataillon 93	Panzergrenadierbataillon 112
Panzerbatallion 104	Panzergrenadierbataillon 122
Panzerbataillon 203	Panzergrenadierbataillon 212
Panzerbatallion 303	Panzergrenadierbataillon 371
Panzerbataillon 413	Panzergrenadierbataillon 391
	Panzergrenadierbataillon 401
	Panzergrenadierbataillon 411

A typical armoured battalion ('Panzerbataillon') consists of a HQ & support company and three tank companies (equipped with 42 MBTs). The new mechanized battalion ('Panzergrenadierbataillon') consists of a HQ & support company and three mechanized companies (equipped with up to 40 Marder 1 A5 or Puma). Formerly there was a fifth company with mortars or/and anti-tank units.

Infantry

Within the German Army, there are three types of infantry:

★ 'Jäger'—Light Infantry / Rangers

★ 'Gebirgsjäger'—Mountain Infantry

★ 'Fallschirmjäger'—Airborne troops

Airborne Infantry	Mountain Infantry	Light Infantry
Fallschirmjägerbatallion 261	Gebirgsjägerbataillon 231	Jägerbatallion 292
Fallschirmjägerbatallion 263	Gebirgsjägerbataillon 232	Jägerregiment 1 (airmobile)
Fallschirmjägerbatallion 313	Gebirgsjägerbataillon 233
Fallschirmjägerbatallion 373	Gebirgsjägerbataillon 571

A typical infantry battalion is structured in a HQ & support company, three light infantry companies and an indirect fire support company ("The Heavy Company"). These company consists of one anti-tank platoons (equipped with Wiesel 1, TOW), three machine gun platoons (equipped with Wiesel 1, machine gun 20 mm) and two mortar platoons (today equipped with mortar 120 mm on M113, in future on Wiesel 2). Then you find specialized Infantry Platoons like a mountain ranger platoon ('Hochgebirgszug') of the mountain infantry, a pathfinder platoon ('Fallschirmspezialzug') of the paratroops or K9 dog platoon ('Diensthundezug') are found in the HQ & support company ('Stabs- und Versorgungskompanie').

Special Forces

Through Army Transformation the Special Operations Division (DSO) was formed. Soldiers of the Special Forces Command ('Kommando Spezialkräfte'), formerly belonging to the infantry, today have their own division.

Artillery Corps

The majority of artillery corps ('Artillerietruppe') within the German Army are 'Panzerartillerie' (armoured artillery). After Army Transformation the German Army will only have six artillery units. The German Army no longer requires the same amount of artillery for its peacekeeping missions as it did during the Cold War, so the new artillery corps is relatively smaller, however the units are larger and stronger.

★ Two armoured artillery battalions ('Panzerartilleriebataillon') in the two brigades of the 1st Armoured Division with a HQ & support battery and three armoured artillery batteries (equipped with 27 Panzerhaubitze 2000).

★ An artillery regiment with HQ Battery in the divisional troops of the 1st Armoured Division with:

★
★ An artillery reconnaissance battalion ('Panzerartillerieaufklärungsbataillon') with a HQ & support battery, an artillery reconnaissance battery, a drone reconnaissance battery and two armoured artillery batteries (equipped with Fennek or Marder or Puma, KZO, 2 COBRA, 1 SMA, 2 ATMAS, 18 Panzerhaubitze 2000).

★
★ An artillery missile battalion ('Raketenartilleriebataillon') with a HQ & support battery and four artillery missile batteries (equipped with 32 MLRS).

★ A mixed artillery battalion ('gemischtes Artilleriebataillon') of the Franco-German-Brigade with a HQ & support battery with artillery reconnaissance elements, two armoured artillery batteries and an artillery missile battery (equipped with 18 Panzerhaubitzen 2000, 10 MLRS, 1 KZO, 1 ATMAS, Fennek or Marder or Puma).

★ An artillery reconnaissance regiment ('Panzerartillerieaufklärungsregiment') with a HQ & support battery, an artillery reconnaissance battery, a drone reconnaissance battery and three armoured artillery batteries (equipped with 27 Panzerhaubitzen 2000, 1 KZO, 3 COBRA, 2 SMA, 4 ATMAS, Fennek or Puma or Marder).

Army Air Defence Corps

The army air defence corps ('Heeresflugabwehrtruppe') is made up of five units:

★ Three light air defence batteries of the 1st Armoured Division, the Special Operations Division ('Division Spezielle Operationen') and the Airmobile Operations Division ('Division Luftbewegliche Operationen'), equipped with 19 Wiesel2-based Ozelot.

★ An air defence regiment ('Panzerflugabwehrregiment') of the 1st Armoured Division, equipped with Gepard.

★ An air defence battalion ('Panzerflugabwehrbataillon') of the Army Troop Command, equipped with Gepard.

Army Aviators Corps

The army aviators corps ('Heeresfliegertruppe') provides helicopter assets to the German Army. These units are mainly organized into regiments. There are three types of helicopter regiments: the attack helicopter regiment (equipped with Bo 105 PAH, to be replaced by the Tiger), the light transport helicopter regiment (equipped with UH-1D, to be replaced by the NH90) and the transport helicopter regiment (equipped with CH-53G). The German Air Force and the German Navy also have helicopter units.

Army Aviators Corps
Heeresfliegeraufklärungsstaffel 100
Heeresfliegerunterstützungsstaffel 1
Heeresfliegerinstandsetzungsstaffel 1
Transporthubschrauberregiment 10
Transporthubschrauberregiment 15
Kampfhubschrauberregiment 26
Transporthubschrauberregiment 25
Transporthubschrauberregiment 30
Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36

A helicopter regiment is normally structured in a HQ squadron, a support squadron, a flying group ('Fliegende Gruppe'), with three squadrons, and a mechanic group ('Luftfahrzeugtechnische Gruppe'), with four squadrons. Each regiment is mostly equipped with up to 40 helicopters.

Engineer Corps

Units of the engineer corps ('Pioniertruppe') engage in mobility, countermobility, survivability and general engineering operations. They have many faces: the engineers ('Pioniere'), the armoured engineers ('Panzerpioniere'), the airborne engineers ('Luftlandepioniere'), the mountain engineers ('Gebirgspioniere') and other units.
The engineer troop unit structure becomes larger and more effective in the new army.

Heavy Engineers	Armoured Engineers	Airborne Engineers	Mountain Engineers
Schweres Pionierbataillon 130	Panzerpionierbataillon 1	Luftlandepionierkompanie 260	Gebirgspionierbataillon 8
	Panzerpionierbataillon 4	Luftlandepionierkompanie 270
	Panzerpionierbataillon 701
	Panzerpionierbataillon 803
	Panzerpionierkompanie 90
	Panzerpionierkompanie 200
	Panzerpionierkompanie 550

★ An armoured engineer battalion ('Panzerpionierbataillon') consists of a HQ & support company and three armoured engineer companies.

★ The mountain engineer battalion consists of a HQ & support company, two mountain engineer companies and a mountain engineer machine company.

★ A heavy engineer battalion consists of a HQ & support company, two amphibious or bridge companies and two engineer machine companies.

NBC Corps

The units of the NBC corps ('ABC-Abwehrtruppe') are responsible for decontamination of personnel, vehicles and other material. They also search for nuclear, bacterial or chemical sources. These research squads are equipped with the NBC Fox ('ABC-Spürpanzer Fuchs'), which will be replaced by the MRAV Boxer.

NBC Corps
leichte ABC-Abwehrkompanie 110
leichte ABC-Abwehrkompanie 120
ABC-Abwehrbataillon 7
ABC-Abwehrregiment 750

Logistics Corps

Units belonging to the logistics corps ('Heereslogistiktruppen') support combat units. The logistics corps is the result of the fusion of the ordnance corps ('Instandsetzungstruppe') and the supplies corps ('Nachschubtruppe'). Logistics units, mostly logistics battalions ('Logistikbataillone') have many tasks: transportation, maintenance/repairing of vehicles, weapons and other material, supply of material, cooking meals for the German Army, etc.

Logistics Corps
Versorgungsbataillon D/F Brigade
Logistikbataillon 3
Logistikbataillon 4
Logistikbataillon 7
Gebirgslogistikbataillon 8
Logistikbataillon 141
Logistikbataillon 131
Logistikbataillon 142
Luftlandeunterstützungsbataillon 262
Luftlandeunterstützungsbataillon 272

A typical logistics battalion of the German Army consists of a HQ & support company, two light maintenance companies and two supply/transport companies. (In contrast a logistics battalion of the Joint Support Centre consists of a HQ & support company, two maintenance companies, two supply companies, a transport company and a special supply company.)

Weapons

Standard Light Weapons

★ Heckler & Koch G36—5.56 mm x 45 assault rifle replacing the Heckler & Koch G3 as primary weapon

★ Version G36K and G36C for several branches including Special Forces

★ Heckler & Koch MG4—5.56 mm light machine gun, replacing the MG3 in the squad automatic weapon role

★ MG3—7.62 mm x 51 machine gun

★ G8—7.62 mm x 51 machine gun, only used by special forces

★ Heckler & Koch MP7—4.6 mm x 30 submachine gun, replacing the MP2

★ MP2—9 x 19 mm submachine gun

★ Heckler & Koch MP5—9 x 19 mm submachine gun, only used by the military police (Feldjäger) and the KSK

★ Heckler & Koch P8—9 x 19 mm pistol

★ G22—7.62 mm x 66.5B sniper rifle

★ G82—sniper rifle

★ Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 3—Rocket propelled grenade

★ Raytheon Fliegerfaust 2 (FIM-92 Stinger)—infrared homing surface-to-air missile

★ MILAN—anti-tank guided missile system

★ Granatpistole 40mm—grenade launcher

★ HK GMG—grenade autocannon

★ AG36—grenade launcher

★ KM2000—172 mm tantō style blade standard combat knife

Reconnaissance Systems

★ Fennek (light wheeled reconnaissance vehicle), replacing some Luchs

★ Luchs A2 (wheeled reconnaissance vehicle)

★ Luna X 2000 (reconnaissance drone system)

★ KZO (reconnaissance drone system)

★ Aladin (reconnaissance drone system)

★ MIKADO (mini reconnaissance drone system)

★ RASIT (radar system), being phased out

★ BÜR (radar system), replacing RASIT and ABRA

Combat vehicles

★ Leopard 2 (Main Battle Tank)

★
★ A4, being phased out

★
★ A5

★
★ A6

★ Marder 1 A3/A5 (infantry fighting vehicle)

★ Puma (IFV) (infantry fighting vehicle), replaces the Marder in the Mechanized Infantry

★ Wiesel 1/2 (light air-transportable tracked multirole vehicle)

★
★ as a reconnaissance vehicle for the airborne troops

★
★ with autocannon 20 mm

★
★ with TOW

★
★ with mortar 120 mm

★
★ as a radar vehicle for the light air defence system (LeFlaSys)

★
★ as a command vehicle for the LeFlaSys

★
★ as an engineer reconnaissance vehicle

★
★ with Stinger equipped for the LeFlaSys

★
★ as a medical vehicle for the airborne troops

★ M113 A2 (multirole armoured vehicle), being phased out

★ GTK Boxer (multirole armoured vehicle), replaces M113 and Fuchs

★ Jaguar 2 (tank destroyer), being phased out

★ Dingo 1/2 (armoured wheeled vehicle)

★ Grizzly (armoured wheeled vehicle)

★ AGF Serval

★ YAK (Duro III) (armoured wheeled vehicle)

★ Mungo ESK (armoured tranport vehicle)

★ Fuchs 1/2 (multirole armoured vehicle)

★ BV 206 S (tracked armoured tranport vehicle)

Artillery

★ M270 MLRS (227 mm multiple rocket launcher)

★ PzH 2000 (155 mm self-propelled howitzer), replacing M109

★ M109 A3 GE A1 (155 mm self-propelled howitzer), upgraded, being phased out and replaced by PzH 2000

★ ABRA (artillery radar system), being phased out

★ COBRA (artillery radar system)

★ ATMAS (artillery weather measure system)

★ SMA (artillery sound measure system)

Air Defence Systems

★ Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard 1 A2 (Self propelled anti air gun)

★ ROLAND (Air defence system), phased out

★ LeFlaSys (leichtes Flugabwehrraketensystem), based on Wiesel 2

★ LÜR (radar system), being phased out

★ BÜR (radar system)

Engineer Equipment

★ Dachs (tracked engineer tank)

★ Büffel (tracked salvage tank)

★ Biber (bridge layer)

★ Panzerschnellbrücke 2 (bridge layer), replacing the Biber

★ Scorpion (mine system)

★ Keiler (mine breaker)

★ M3 (amphibious vehicle)

★ Medium Girder Bridge (bridge system)

★ Faltfestbrücke (bridge system)

★ Faltschwimmbrücke (bridge system)

★ Pontoon bridge

★ Faltstraßensystem (mobile roadway system)

Aircraft inventory

The German Army operates 317 helicopters. Nearly all were built in Germany while nearly 40% are indigenous designs. 80 Eurocopter Tiger and 80 NH90 helicopters have been ordered.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service^[1]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| UH-1 Iroquois || || utility helicopter || UH-1D || 82 || being withdrawn; built by Dornier
|-----
| Bölkow Bo 105 || || scout/attack helicopter || PAH-1/VBH|| 104 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter EC 135 || || utility helicopter || || 22 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Tiger || || attack helicopter || || 80 (planned), entered service ||
|-----
| NHI NH90 || || transport helicopter || NH90 TTH || || 80
|-----
| Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion || || transport helicopter || CH-53G/CH-53GS || 80 || 110 built by VFW
|}

Logistic Equipment

★ SLT 50-3 Elefant (heavy tractor trailer, tank transport)

★ Berge- und Kranfahrzeug, BKF 30.40 (salvage vehicle)

Non-combat vehicles

★ Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf"

★ KTM LC4 Military 27 PS, motorcycle

★ LKW 2t mil gl, 4x4 (Unimog)

★ LKW 5t mil gl, 4x4

★ LKW 5t tmil, 4x4

★ LKW 7t mil gl, 6x6

★ LKW 7t tmil, 6x6

★ LKW 10t mil gl, 8x8

★ LKW 15t mil gl, 8x8

★ LKW 15t mil gl MULTI, 8x8

★ Volkswagen T platform (T3/T4)

Reference

★ Wheeler-Bennett, Sir John ''The Nemesis of Power: German Army in Politics, 1918-1945'' New York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishing Company, 2005.

See also

★ Bundeswehr

★ Heer

★ Infantryman of the Future

★ History of Germany during World War II

★ Prussian Army

★ Reichswehr

External links

★ Official Homepage of the German Army (Heer) in German

Historical Links

★ German Armed Forces 1918-1945

★ German Army pre 1914

★ German Army 1914-1918

★ German Army Organization 1914

★ German Infantry Photographs from WWII - Colour photographs of German infantry during WWII

★ Gebirgsjaeger - German Mountain Troops

★ Axis History - Axis History site including German troops.