National defense: Bundeswehr sets up division for homeland security

Division for military homeland security: The German Army is setting up a fourth large unit to secure infrastructure and important military facilities in Germany. The future homeland security division will consist of reservists and active soldiers and will be subordinate to a unified leadership, an army spokesman told the German Press Agency in Berlin. So she will be partially active.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) prescribed a new structure for the Bundeswehr last year. He pointed out the changed threat situation and the need to be able to survive militarily in a defensive war. In the new structure, the Bundeswehr’s homeland security forces will be subordinated to the army on April 1 and are to be further expanded.

The army currently has three divisions – around 20,000 men and women each. These are the 1st and 10th Panzer Divisions as well as the Rapid Forces Division (DSK), which brings together the light and highly mobile infantry. The fourth major association is now being added for homeland security.

The tasks of homeland security guards are diverse

In the event of tension and defense or even in the event of a crisis, homeland security forces should protect ports, railway facilities and goods transshipment points, as well as pipelines, roads for the deployment of troops, bridges, transport hubs and digital infrastructure. They are also intended to secure Germany’s role as a NATO operational base and hub.

In peacetime, homeland security officers can be deployed to provide administrative assistance in the event of serious accidents, terrorist situations or pandemics. Last year there were more exercises.

“The homeland security forces are intended for use in protection and security tasks as well as for property protection – i.e. scenarios of national and alliance defense. In such a scenario they would be deployed because regular Bundeswehr units would be tied up with other tasks,” writes the Bundeswehr.

The active force could be needed in the alliance area

The plans are also based on the assumption that the existing divisions could be relocated under NATO leadership to NATO’s external border, i.e. possibly to Poland, Lithuania or Estonia, to deter or defend against a possible aggressor. Homeland security guards should then be ready in Germany.

According to current plans, the Bundeswehr will set up its sixth homeland security regiment before the summer. A total of around 6,000 men and women will be available – initially far too few for the task. In a first step, the six regiments will be combined into the homeland security division, which will grow up.

The step also initiates a different formation of the reserve, which will have key tasks in defense planning (“Operations Plan Germany”). Military planners believe that at least a high five-digit number of homeland security guards is necessary

Military service should provide men and women for homeland security

The military planners are also relying on the reintroduction of military service, initiated by Pistorius. The plan is currently on hold due to the failure of the traffic light coalition, but preparations are continuing.

The CDU/CSU have repeatedly stated that they want more than the military service model presented by Pistorius, which includes an obligation for young men to provide information and a reintroduction of the so-called military registration. There was resistance to more compulsory service in the traffic light coalition from all three parties, but especially from the FDP.

According to dpa information, a decision has already been made about the leadership of the new large association. The establishment of the homeland security division – typically abbreviated as “HSchDiv” in military terms – should therefore take place in mid-March.