The Executive Group
The Federal Minister of Defence is at the head of the Ministry of Defence. The Minister, the Parliamentary State Secretaries and the Permanent State Secretaries form the Ministry’s Executive Group.
The Minister
As head of the Ministry, he is a member of the Federal Government. In peacetime, he is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and hence also the highest disciplinary superior of all military personnel.
In addition, he is the head of the federal defence administration and thus the superior of all civilian employees of the Bundeswehr and the Ministry.
Should a state of defence be declared, the command authority of the armed forces passes to the Federal Chancellor.
Parliamentary State Secretaries
Two Parliamentary State Secretaries assist the Minister in fulfilling his governmental duties. They maintain permanent contact with the Bundestag, Bundesrat and parliamentary groups, and represent the Minister in these bodies.
