Celebration to mark 66 years of the Bundeswehr

From office to ministry...

On 12 November 1955, the Bundeswehr was born with the handover of 101 certificates of appointment to the volunteers of the army, air force and navy. The then Minister of Defence, Theodor Blank, began preparations for the rearmament of the young Federal Republic of Germany in 1950 in the Blank office with other members of the Himmerode Group of Experts. The Himmerode Memorandum is regarded as the basis from which ideas and the "Innere Führung" leadership concept for the formation of the Bundeswehr were taken and implemented.

The Bundeswehr celebrated the 66th anniversary of its founding with several events throughout Germany. In Rostock city harbour, the air force presented itself with the "Patriot" air defence missile system and the medical service with emergency vehicles. The German Navy hosted an open ship on the minehunter FULDA, which was attended by youth officers from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state command and visiting classes from schools in the Hanseatic city of Rostock and the surrounding area. The diving group from the Warnemünde naval base gave a dynamic demonstration of part of their range of operations in a transparent diving container to visitors of all ages.

In addition to the exhibits from the armed forces, the Bundeswehr Association, the Family Support Centre and the Bundeswehr Social Services will also be present at the event site with information stands. The Chief of Staff of the Naval Command, Rear Admiral Frank Lenski, was impressed by the great interest shown by visitors on the occasion of the Bundeswehr's foundation day during his visit to the event venue. For the physical well-being of the visitors, the obligatory pea soup from the field kitchen was of course a must for the Bundeswehr as an aged, yet young-at-heart jubilarian. In keeping with the weather and the occasion, mulled wine was served as a celebratory drink.

Photos and text: D. Angres