The Directorates-General

The Directorate-General for Security and Defence Policy shapes and coordinates the security, defence, armaments, arms export and arms control policies within the area of responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Defence (FMoD) and is responsible for questions relating to “Bundeswehr and society”. It maintains close consultation with the Federal Government and with international partners and organisations (NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization, EUEuropean Union, UNUnited Nations, OSCEOrganisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe), advocating the positions of the FMoD. Together 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 of the mandates for Bundeswehr missions abroad which require 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 terms 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 deriving from them. It has overall responsibility for the Bundeswehr procurement and in-service support process and exercises ministerial supervision.

The Directorate-General for Cyber/Information Technology is in charge of planning, implementing and operating ITInformationstechnik services in the Bundeswehr, significantly advancing the digital transformation of the FMoD and its area of responsibility. Another focus of this Directorate-General is national and international cooperation on all questions of cyber and digital policy, including national cyber security. It is also responsible for cyber and information security in the Bundeswehr, for research and development, and for innovations in the field of cyber and information technology.

The Directorate-General for Planning is the mastermind and the driving force behind Bundeswehr-wide planning. It supports the discharge of the Chief of Defence’s overall planning responsibility. The “research and innovation hub” is a staff element created in response to the crucial importance of innovation and future development.

The Directorate-General for Joint Force Readiness and Support controls, at ministerial level, the provision of operationally ready forces and their support in terms of logistics, command and control, and medical support. It provides input to other Directorates-General at the FMoD, which then create the necessary prerequisites for armed forces readiness. This Directorate-General is also responsible for reserve affairs, leadership development and civic education, territorial tasks, welfare and veterans’ affairs.

The Directorate-General for Military Strategy and Operations has overall responsibility for national and collective defence and operations. It establishes the strategic basis for the deployment of armed forces, for overall military and for national territorial defence. This Directorate-General is also responsible for crisis management for German nationals abroad (if these are at risk and must be evacuated), Bundeswehr disaster relief in Germany and abroad, space operations and space security. Furthermore, it is in charge of defence diplomacy and defence attaché affairs, a capacity in which it also liaises with the defence attachés accredited in Germany. The Directorate-General also assists the Chief of Defence in dealings with international organisations such as NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization or the EUEuropean Union.

The Directorate-General for Budget prepares documents for financial planning. It drafts the part of the budget that applies to the Ministry – the defence budget – and implements it after it has been passed. In addition, it is also involved in all matters of financial importance and supports the executive group at the FMoD in exercising strategic control.

The Directorate-General for Legal Affairs and Organisation provides legal advice in any and all areas of security and defence law relevant to the work of the FMoD: public and constitutional law, international and European law, intelligence and security regulations, public service law and working hours 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. This Directorate-General is also responsible for the organisation of the Ministry and its subordinate agencies as well as for auditing within the remit of the FMoD. Furthermore, it exercises supervision over the Federal Office of Military Counter-Intelligence and over the Bundeswehr Military Legal System.

The purpose of the Directorate-General for Personnel is to maintain a future-proof body of active military and civilian personnel to ensure personnel readiness in the Bundeswehr in order to provide Alliance deterrence and defence and to be able to respond as part of international crisis management. It is responsible for management of the entire military and civilian body of personnel within the remit of the FMoD and thus for personnel recruitment, development, planning and retention as well as for the personnel budget for all Bundeswehr members including reservists. Welfare matters as well as basic and advanced personnel training fall under the responsibility of this Directorate-General.

The Directorate-General for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services controls all major service and support measures for the Bundeswehr at home, abroad and on operations. This primarily includes the construction and operation of facilities, all food services, and travel management. The second main area of activity is formed by civilian operational and support tasks as part of national and collective defence. And finally, this Directorate-General is in charge of environmental protection, climate action, occupational health and safety and fire protection.