"Citizen in Uniform:" Democratic Germany and the Changing Bundeswehr

Abstract

This Strategic Research Project (SRP) describes how Innere Fuehrung, with its corollary of citizen in uniform, assured that the norms and values of the German Basic Law were embedded in the Bundeswehr. It elaborates on this principle and shows how Innere Fuehrung shaped the civil-military relationship in Germany. It then explains how the principle has successfully adapted to three paradigm changes of the Bundeswehr: (a) rearmament that included integration of former Wehrmacht and Reichswehr soldiers, (b) integration of former East German soldiers after reunification, (c) performance of new worldwide missions. It then examines a recent fourth paradigm change: Germany s transition to an all-volunteer force. The SRP concludes with some recommendations to ensure that Innere Fuehrung, with its corollary of citizen in uniform, will remain the guiding principle for the new all-volunteer Bundeswehr.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 09, 2012
Accession Number
ADA561468

Entities

People

  • Jens-olaf Koltermann

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Governments
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • National Politics
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Recreation
  • Social Sciences
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military Logistics and Supply Chain Management