Structure of the German Army


The following lists German active and reserve units within the structure of the German Army. Reserve units do not possess any heavy equipment and their personnel is intended as replacements for losses sustained by regular units.
The German Army is commanded by the Inspector of the Army based at the Army Command in Strausberg near Berlin. The training centers are supervised by the Army Training Command in Leipzig.
The Army's combat formations comprise two Panzer divisions and the lighter Rapid Forces Division. There are five heavy brigades and half a light infantry brigade in the two panzer divisions. Battalions and regiments are directly subordinate to brigades or to divisions as divisional troops. Regiments are rare. German infantry battalions field 1,000 men, considerably larger than most NATO armies.
The list describes the current structure of the army, which replaced the previous structure NEW HEER. Under the heading of “transformation”, the structure of the army is subject to constant change in small steps. With this current structure, the HEER 2011 structure was achieved. The first fundamental step was the establishment of the Army Command with the simultaneous elimination of the Army Command and the Army Command Staff on October 1, 2012. At this point in time, the Army comprised around 68,000 active soldiers. The HEER 2011 structure was largely achieved at unit level at the end of 2015. At the same time, the first changes occurred compared to the originally intended ARMY 2011 structure. For example, the planned non-active 414 Tank Battalion was transformed into a German-Dutch active tank battalion and subordinated to the Dutch 43 Mechanised Brigade.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine from February 2022, NATO began expanding its forces in the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In November 2023 a press release from the German Ministry of Defence specified that a new armoured brigade, :de:Panzerbrigade 42, would be established in Lithuania. It was planned to comprise Panzer Battalion 203 from Augustdorf, and Panzergrenadier Battalion 122. Initial command elements were planned to start moving in the second quarter of 2024, and a staff to establish the brigade in the fourth quarter of 2024. The overall NATO headquarters supervising this area is Multinational Corps North East. Later the new brigade's planned designation was changed to 45th Panzer Brigade.

Unit designations

The German Army uses the term "Jäger" to describe its light infantry units and formations. Mountain infantry is designated as Gebirgsjäger, while Paratroopers are designated as Fallschirmjäger. Armoured units equipped with main battle tanks are designated as Panzer formations, while mechanized infantry units equipped with tracked infantry fighting vehicles are designated as Panzergrenadier formations.

Army Command

1st Panzer Division

1st Panzer Division, in Oldenburg
Note: The 1st Panzer Division also has the Royal Netherlands Army's 43rd Mechanized Brigade under its command.

Panzerlehr Brigade 9

Panzerlehr Brigade 9, in Munster
Note: "Lehr" units are training support units.

Panzer Brigade 21

Panzer Brigade 21, in Augustdorf

Panzergrenadier Brigade 41

Panzergrenadier Brigade 41, in Neubrandenburg

10th Panzer Division

10th Panzer Division, in Veitshöchheim
  • * Reconnaissance Battalion 10, in Füssen with Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and KZO drones
  • * Artillery Lehr Battalion 345, in Idar-Oberstein with 24x PzH 2000 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, 8x M270 MLRS multiple rocket launch systems, 12x 120 mm mortars, KZO drones and 2x Euro-Art COBRA counter-battery radars
  • * Panzer Engineer Battalion 4, in Bogen
  • * Engineer Battalion 905, in Ingolstadt
  • * Signal Battalion 10, in Veitshöchheim
  • * Security Battalion 10, in Veitshöchheim
  • * Supply Battalion 8, in Füssen
Note: The 10th Panzer Division also has the Royal Netherlands Army's 13th Light Brigade under its command.

Panzer Brigade 12

Panzer Brigade 12, in Cham

Panzergrenadier Brigade 37

Panzergrenadier Brigade 37, in Frankenberg
  • * Staff and Support Company Panzergrenadier Brigade 37, in Frankenberg
  • * Reconnaissance Battalion 13, in Gotha with Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and KZO drones
  • * Panzergrenadier Battalion 212, in Augustdorf with 44x Puma infantry fighting vehicles
  • * Panzergrenadier Battalion 371, in Marienberg with 44x Marder infantry fighting vehicles
  • * Panzergrenadier Battalion 391, in Bad Salzungen with 44x Marder infantry fighting vehicles
  • * Panzer Battalion 393, in Bad Frankenhausen with 44x Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks
  • * Panzergrenadier Battalion 909, in Marienberg
  • * Panzer Artillery Battalion 375, in Weiden in der Oberpfalz
  • * Panzer Engineer Battalion 701, in Gera
  • * Supply Battalion 131, in Bad Frankenhausen
  • * Signal Company Panzergrenadier Brigade 37, in Frankenberg

Panzer Brigade 45

Panzer Brigade 45, in Rūdninkai and Rukla
  • * Staff and Support Company Panzer Brigade 45
  • * Panzergrenadier Battalion 122, in Oberviechtach with 44x Puma Infantry fighting vehicles — will move to Lithuania in 2026
  • * Panzer Battalion 203, in Augustdorf with 44x Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks — will move to Lithuania in 2026
  • * Multinational Battle Group Lithuania, in Rukla
  • * Panzer Artillery Battalion 455
  • * Supply Battalion 456
  • * Reconnaissance Company 45
  • * Panzer Engineer Company 45
  • * Signal Company Panzer Brigade 45

Franco-German Brigade

The division also has administrative control of the German units in the Franco-German Brigade:Franco-German Brigade, in Müllheim

Rapid Forces Division

Rapid Forces Division, in Stadtallendorf
Note: The Rapid Forces Division also has the Royal Netherlands Army's 11th Airmobile Brigade under its command.

Airborne Brigade 1

Airborne Brigade 1, in Saarlouis

Gebirgsjäger Brigade 23

Gebirgsjäger Brigade 23, in Bad Reichenhall
  • * Staff and Signal Company Gebirgsjäger Brigade 23, in Bad Reichenhall
  • * Mountain Pack Animal Operations and Training Center 230, in Bad Reichenhall
  • * Gebirgsjäger Battalion 231, in Bad Reichenhall with Bv206S
  • * Gebirgsjäger Battalion 232, in Bischofswiesen with Bv206S
  • * Gebirgsjäger Battalion 233, in Mittenwald with Bv206S
  • * Mountain Reconnaissance Company 23, in Füssen
  • * Mountain Engineer Company 23, in Ingolstadt
  • * Mountain Supply Company 23, in Bad Reichenhall and Mittenwald

Special Forces Command

Special Forces Command, in Calw
  • * 1× Staff, 1× Special Reconnaissance, 1× Special Commando, 3× Commando, 1× Signal, 1× Support, and 1× Supply company; a Medical Center, a Training Department, and a Development Department

Helicopter Command

Helicopter Command, in Bückeburg

Home Defence Division

Homeland Defence Division, in Berlin

Home Defence Regiment 1

Home Defence Regiment 1, in Roth

Home Defence Regiment 2

Home Defence Regiment 2, in Münster
  • * Staff and Supply Company 1, Home Defence Regiment 2, in Münster
  • * Support Company 2, Home Defence Regiment 2, in Münster
  • * Training Company 3, Home Defence Regiment 2, in Münster
  • * Home Defence Company 4 "Rheinland", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Düsseldorf
  • * Home Defence Company 5 "Ruhrgebiet", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Unna
  • * Home Defence Company 6 "Westfalen", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Ahlen
  • * Home Defence Company 7 "Saarland", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Saarlouis
  • * Home Defence Company 8 "Hunsrück", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Baumholder
  • * Home Defence Company 9 "Kurpfalz", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Germersheim
  • * Home Defence Company 10 "Rheinland Pfalz", Home Defence Regiment 2, in Mainz

Home Defence Regiment 3

Home Defence Regiment 3, in Nienburg
  • * Staff and Supply Company 1, Home Defence Regiment 3, in Nienburg
  • * Support Company 2, Home Defence Regiment 3, in Nienburg
  • * Training Company 3, Home Defence Regiment 3, in Nienburg
  • * Home Defence Company 4 "Solling", Home Defence Regiment 3, in Holzminden
  • * Home Defence Company 5 "Nordheide", Home Defence Regiment 3, in Lüneburg
  • * Home Defence Company 6 "Küste", Home Defence Regiment 3, in Wittmund
  • * Home Defence Company 7 "Hannover", Home Defence Regiment 3, in Hanover
  • * Home Defence Company 8 "Bremen I", Home Defence Regiment 3, in Bremen
  • * Home Defence Company 9 "Bremen II", Home Defence Regiment 3, in Bremerhaven

Home Defence Regiment 4

Home Defence Regiment 4, in Alt Duvenstedt
  • * Staff and Supply Company 1, Home Defence Regiment 4, in Alt Duvenstedt
  • * Support Company 2, Home Defence Regiment 4, in Alt Duvenstedt
  • * Training Company 3, Home Defence Regiment 4, in Alt Duvenstedt
  • * Home Defence Company 4 "Ostsee", Home Defence Regiment 4, in Parow
  • * Home Defence Company 5 "Mecklenburg", Home Defence Regiment 4, in Schwerin
  • * Home Defence Company 6 "Vorpommern", Home Defence Regiment 4, in Neubrandenburg
  • * Home Defence Company 7 "Hamburg", Home Defence Regiment 4, in Hamburg
  • * Home Defence Company 8 "Schleswig", Home Defence Regiment 4, in Husum
  • * Home Defence Company 9 "Holstein", Home Defence Regiment 4, in Eutin

Home Defence Regiment 5

Home Defence Regiment 5, in Ohrdruf
  • * Staff and Supply Company 1, Home Defence Regiment 5, in Ohrdruf
  • * Support Company 2, Home Defence Regiment 5, in Ohrdruf
  • * Training Company 3, Home Defence Regiment 5, in Ohrdruf
  • * Home Defence Company 4 "Nordhessen", Home Defence Regiment 5, in Frankenberg
  • * Home Defence Company 5 "Mittelhessen", Home Defence Regiment 5, in Wiesbaden
  • * Home Defence Company 6 "Südhessen", Home Defence Regiment 5, in Wiesbaden
  • * Home Defence Company 7 "Thüringen", Home Defence Regiment 5, in Erfurt
  • * Home Defence Company 8 "Sachsen", Home Defence Regiment 5, in Dresden

Home Defence Regiment 6

Home Defence Regiment 6, in Möckern
  • * Staff and Supply Company 1, Home Defence Regiment 6, in Möckern
  • * Support Company 2, Home Defence Regiment 6, in Möckern
  • * Training Company 3, Home Defence Regiment 6, in Möckern
  • * Home Defence Company 4 "Berlin I", Home Defence Regiment 6, in Berlin
  • * Home Defence Company 5 "Berlin II", Home Defence Regiment 6, in Berlin
  • * Home Defence Company 6 "Brandenburg I", Home Defence Regiment 6, in Potsdam
  • * Home Defence Company 7 "Brandenburg II", Home Defence Regiment 6, in Potsdam
  • * Home Defence Company 8 "Sachsen-Anhalt I", Home Defence Regiment 6, in Magdeburg
  • * Home Defence Company 9 "Sachsen-Anhalt II", Home Defence Regiment 6, in Klietz

Other units

As part of the Multinational Corps Northeast:Multinational Corps Northeast, in Szczecin, Poland
As part of the Royal Netherlands Army's 43rd Mechanized Brigade:43rd Mechanized Brigade, in Havelte

Training Command

Training Command, in Leipzig

Cyber and Information Domain Command

Signals, Psychological Operations, Strategic Reconnaissance, Geographic Information, and Electronic Warfare units of the German Armed Forces fall under the Cyber and Information Domain Command of the Bundeswehr. Therefore, the German Army does not have its own units of such type, but is supported by the units of the Cyber and Information Space Command as needed.

Joint Support Service

Logistics, CBRN defense and Military Police units of the German Armed Forces fall under the Joint Support Service of the Bundeswehr. Therefore, the German Army does not have its own units of such type, but is supported by the units of the Joint Support Service as needed.

Joint Medical Service

All medical units of the German Armed Forces fall under the Joint Medical Service of the Bundeswehr. Therefore, the German Army does not have its own medical units, but is supported by the units of the Joint Medical Service as needed.