The Directorates-General

The Major Directorate-General for the Armed Forces focuses on topics such as military strategy and operations as well as readiness and support of the armed forces. It reports to the Chief of Defence. It establishes the strategic basis for the deployment of armed forces, for overall military and for national territorial defence. Other tasks include crisis and risk management for the protection of German nationals abroad – if they are in danger and need to be evacuated – in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office, Bundeswehr disaster relief operations in Germany and abroad, leadership development and civic education, and reserve affairs. It also controls the provision of support to the forces in terms of logistics, command and control, medical service, and military intelligence.

The objective of the Major Directorate-General for Augmentation is a resilient military and civilian body of personnel who is fit for the future in order to ensure personnel readiness of the Bundeswehr in the areas of Alliance deterrence and defence, and international crisis management response. It manages the recruitment and development of personnel and the recruiting organisation as well as the personnel strategy. The Major Directorate-General for Augmentation is also responsible for the New Military Service model. Furthermore, it manages the Bundeswehr infrastructure and facility service as well as protective tasks.

The Directorate-General for Security and Defence Policy frames and coordinates security, defence, armaments, armaments export and arms control policy in the area of responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Defence (FMoD) and is responsible for questions relating to the topic of Bundeswehr and Society. It works closely with the Federal Government and international partners and organisations (NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization, EUEuropean Union, United Nations, OSCEOrganisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe), advocating the positions of the FMoD. In cooperation with the Foreign Office, the Directorate-General for Security and Defence Policy is in charge of the Federal Government’s Enable and Enhance Initiative as well as the mandates for Bundeswehr missions abroad requiring parliamentary approval. It thus supports the Federal Government’s strategic capacity in these times of the Zeitenwende and provides a framework for the Bundeswehr in the realm of security and defence policy.

The Directorate-General for Armament is responsible for the planning, management and supervision of national and international armaments activities with a view to accomplishing the tasks of the Bundeswehr and implementing the capability profile derived from them. It has overall responsibility for the Bundeswehr procurement and in-service support process and exercises ministerial supervision.

The Directorate-General for Innovation and Cyber is in charge of planning information technology services in the Bundeswehr, significantly advancing the digital transformation of the FMoD and its area of responsibility. In addition, it is responsible for research and innovation, including projects concerning the use of artificial intelligence.  

The Directorate-General for Budget prepares documents for financial planning. It drafts the part of the budget relevant to the Ministry – the defence budget (departmental budget 14) – and implements it once it has been passed. Furthermore, it is involved in all matters of financial importance and supports the executive group of the FMoD in exercising strategic control.

The Directorate-General for Legal Affairs deals with legal issues from all directorates-general. It provides legal advice in all areas of security and defence law relevant to the work of the Ministry: public and constitutional law, international and European law, intelligence and security regulations, public service law and working time regulations, data protection, procurement and media law. Tasks include drafting laws and regulations, assessing compliance with regulations, drawing up contracts and representing the interests of the FMoD in the event of legal disputes.

In addition to organisational tasks, the Directorate-General for Central Affairs handles administrative tasks previously assigned to the former Directorates-General for Cyber/Information Technology, Personnel, and Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services. This includes ITInformationstechnik support and FMoD personnel management as well as related issues of civilian personnel management, social affairs and FMoD services (internal services).