Superior of all soldiers and cabinet member
First paragraph of the articleSuperior of all soldiers and cabinet member
In her role as Minister of Defence, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer exercises several important functions at the same time. Not only is she a member of the federal government's cabinet, she is also the highest‑ranking superior of all soldiers as well as the commander in chief of the armed forces in peacetime.
The minister can thus make decisions on all issues concerning the armed forces. This includes the deployment of combat units, the introduction of new weapon systems or the closure of garrisons. It is only upon the promulgation of a state of defence that the power of command over the armed forces passes to the Federal Chancellor.
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Together with two Parliamentary State Secretaries and two Permanent State Secretaries, she is part of the Executive Group of the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The security environment is subject to constant change; the White Paper of the Bundeswehr takes this into account on a regular basis. The White Paper provides the minister with a framework for defence policy.
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As the Federal Minister of Defence, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is the supreme superior of all soldiers and holds the power to command the armed forces during times of peace.
Together, the former and the newly appointed Minister of Defence walk alongside the Guard Battalion´s Honorary Formation.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer intends to emphasise that security and defence are of highest priority.
For Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, it is the first office as a minister at federal level.
Responsible for the future of the Bundeswehr: Annegret Kamp-Karrenbauer is sworn in by Wolfgang Schäuble, the President of the German Bundestag.
After having been sworn in, the Minister of Defence visited the troops in Celle in order to gain an impression of the soldiers´ training.
The Minister of Defence, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, during her visitation of the German troop contingent at Camp Stephan in Erbil, Iraq.
