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), Bundesmarine (Federal Navy), Luftwaffe (Air Force), Streitkräftebasis (Joint Support Service), and the Zentraler Sanitätsdienst (Central Medical Services) branches.

The Bundeswehr in general is among the world's most technologically advanced and best-supplied militaries, as befits Germany's overall economic prosperity and significant military industry. As of June 2013, the Bundeswehr has a strength of roughly 215,000 active troops, making it the 29th 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 174,000 reserve personnel.

Information

 * Active Duty Personnel: 215,000
 * Reserve Personnel: 174,000
 * Budget (2012): $54,416,000,000 (1.6% of GDP)
 * Founded: November 12, 1955
 * Current Form: October 2, 1990
 * Branches: Bundesmarine, Heer, Luftwaffe, Streitkräftebasis, Zentraler Sanitätsdienst
 * Headquarters: Berlin, Bonn, Potsdam
 * Commander in Chief: Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière (Chancellor Angela Merkel after a declaration of state of defense)
 * Minister of Defense: Thomas de Maizière
 * Chief of Staff: General Volker Wieker (Heer)