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The Bundeswehr is the armed forces of Germany. It is a federal defense force with Army (Heer), Navy (Marine), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Medical Services (Zentraler Sanitätsdienst) and Command of the Armed Forces (Streitkräftebasis) branches. It employs some 250,000 soldiers, 50000 of whom are 18-30-year-old men doing their duty in the military services for currently at least 9 months. In peacetime, the Bundeswehr is led by the minister of defense, currently Peter Struck (since 2002). If Germany is in a state of tension or defence, the chancellor becomes commander in chief of the Bundeswehr.
Bundeswehr
Military manpower
Military age18 years of age
Availabilitymales age 15-49: 20,863,020 (2000 est.)
Fit for military servicemales age 15-49: 17,800,862 (2000 est.)
Reaching military age annuallymales: 485,422 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure$30.08 billion (FY04)
(EUR 24.06 billion)
Percent of GDP1.5% (FY98)

1 History

The Bundeswehr was founded in 1955 succeeding the Wehrmacht and the former Reichswehr - after some discussion about re-militarizing Germany (the Wiederbewaffnung) after World War II - by changing the German Grundgesetz (basic law, Germany's constitution). In 1955 Germany became a NATO member. In 1956 a conscription for all men between 18 and 45 in years was introduced, later on softened by the introduction of a civil alternative with longer duration.

After reunification in 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo, the Bundeswehr was effectively merged with the Nationale Volksarmee of the GDR, by the fact that the latter was dissolved.

In 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep, the NATO war on YugoslaviaYugoslavia Jugoslavija in all south Slavic languages) is a term used for three separate political entities that existed during most of the 20th century. Translated, the name means Land of the South Slavs jug in Jugoslavija means south). The first was a ki was the first non- defensive war the Bundeswehr actively took part in.

In 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri the European Court of JusticeThe ECJ should not be mistaken for the European Court of Human Rights, a Council of Europe institution. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is the 'Court of Justice of the European Communities', i. the court of the European Union (EU). It is based in Luxe opened up the previously all-male (besides medical divisions and the music corps) Bundeswehr to women.



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