Germany’s former Chiefs of Defence
The Chief of Defence advises the German government on the development and implementation of its overall military defence concept. He is the direct superior of all the military personnel in the Bundeswehr and a member of the Federal Ministry of Defence Executive Group. The Chief of Defence is appointed by the President of Germany on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence.
The Chief of Defence and his functions
Chief of Defence Volker Wieker visits German soldiers at Camp Castor in Gao.
General Volker Wieker has been Chief of Defence since 21 January 2010. One major development that has taken place during his term in office is the suspension of compulsory military service. His predecessors also often faced considerable challenges. Adolf Heusinger and one of his successors, Ulrich de Maizière, developed the concept of “Innere Führung” (leadership development and civic education) in an effort to establish the democratic values of the fledgling republic in the new Bundeswehr.
Within NATO, the German army has gone from being an enemy to a reliable friend in the defence of Western Europe. After the Cold War and German reunification, the task of integrating the former East German Army (National People’s Army) into the Bundeswehr fell to Chiefs of Defence Dieter Wellershoff and Klaus Naumann. The Chief of Defence was now the supreme representative of all the German soldiers and had to redefine the tasks of what had so far been a defensive force only.
The international orientation of the Bundeswehr was revealed in the first operations it conducted for the United Nations in Iraq and the Balkans. The transformation of the Bundeswehr into an army on operations required considerable changes to be made in the defence resources. The suspension of compulsory military service in 2011 was implemented by General Volker Wieker.
Germany’s Chiefs of Defence since 1957
14th Chief of Defence General Wolfgang Schneiderhan shaped the transformation of the Bundeswehr to armed forces on operations, including the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
13th Chief of Defence (2000-2002) General Harald Kujat started mobilising the armed forces against international terrorism following 9/11.
12th Chief of Defence (1999-2000) General Hans-Peter von Kirchbach commanded around 30,000 troops fighting the 1997 Oder Flood, thus becoming the "Hero of the Oder" even before his term of Office.
11th Chief of Defence (1996-1999) General Hartmut Bagger saw the first eastward enlargement of NATO to include Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. He was also an accomplished Pianist.
10th Chief of Defence (1991-1996) General Klaus Naumann shaped the strategic reorientation of the Bundeswehr after the reunification of Germany.
9th Chief of Defence (1986-1991) Admiral Dieter Wellershoff became the "Chief of Defence of Unification" after the Wall came down.
8th Chief of Defence (1983-1986) General Wolfgang Altenburg supported the controversial NATO Double-Track Decision.
7th Chief of Defence (1978-1983) General Jürgen Brandt organised the expansion of the army by three additional brigades.
6th Chief of Defence (1976-1978) General Harald Wust was faced with serious incidents along the inner-German border during his term of Office.
5th Chief of Defence (1972-1976) Admiral Armin Zimmermann was the first navy officer to serve in this position.
4th Chief of Defence (1966-1972) General Ulrich de Maizière, father of the eventual Minister of Defence, helped develop "Innere Führung".
3rd Chief of Defence (1964-1966) General Heinz Trettner resigned two years after his appointment in response to a decree allowing soldiers to join unions.
2nd Chief of Defence (1961-1963) General Friedrich Albert Foertsch had to deal with the building of the Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Spiegel Affair.
