Eurocorps

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Eurocorps
Corps européen / Eurocorps
XXX

Association badge

Eurocorps badge
Lineup October 1, 1993
Country GermanyGermany Germany France Belgium Spain
FranceFrance 
BelgiumBelgium 
SpainSpain 

LuxembourgLuxembourg Luxembourg

Armed forces Bundeswehr Kreuz.svg armed forces

Armoiries république française.svg French armed forces Belgian armed forces Spanish armed forces Armed forces of Luxembourg
Coats of arms of Belgium Military Forces.svg
Emblem of the Spanish Armed Forces, svg
LuxembourgLuxembourg

Type NATO Rapidly Deployable Corps Headquarters NATO Response Force (temporary)
NATO 
Strength Staff approx. 400, support brigade max. 600
headquarters Blason Strasbourg.svg Strasbourg FranceFrance
Web presence Eurocorps website
commander
Commanding general Lieutenant General Laurent KolodziejFranceFrance
Deputy Commanding General Major General Josef Blotz GermanyGermany
Chief of Staff Major General Xavier WatteeuwBelgiumBelgium
insignia
Beret badge BW beret badge Eurocorps.png
Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove

The Eurocorps is primarily a military headquarters of the countries Germany , France , Belgium , Spain and Luxembourg (framework nations), which is open to all member states of the EU and the NATO-associated states. For training purposes, the Polish army also takes part in brigade strength in the Eurocorps and originally intended to become the sixth full-fledged framework nation in 2016. The Eurocorps consists of a staff with support units with around a thousand employees and can lead up to 60,000 soldiers. The corps provides forces for EU and NATO missions, including a. for the rapid reaction force of NATO.

history

On the basis of the resolution of the Franco-German summit on May 22, 1992 in La Rochelle , the Eurocorps was founded, which was officially created on October 1, 1993 when Lieutenant General Helmut Willmann took office and presented to the public on November 5, 1993 in Strasbourg . In the SACEUR agreement of January 21, 1993, the relations and competencies between NATO and the Eurocorps were regulated.

The Franco-German Brigade , which was set up in 1989, has been operational since 1991. Belgium joined the Eurocorps on June 25, 1993, Spain on July 1, 1994 , and Luxembourg on May 7, 1996 .

In September 2002 the Eurocorps was transformed into a so-called "rapid reaction corps", which is available not only to the EU , but also to NATO. In the NATO command structure, the corps is classified as Rapidly Deployable Corps Headquarters with subordination to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and regularly provides forces for the NATO Response Force . Since then, officers from several NATO allies have been on the corps staff : Greece (2002), Turkey (2002), Poland (2003), Canada (–2007), Italy (2009). Liaison officers from Great Britain , Italy and the Netherlands were also sent there.

On February 25, 2003, the EU nations Austria and Finland signed an agreement in a solemn ceremony in Strasbourg, on the basis of which they now sent personnel to the Strasbourg headquarters of the Eurocorps. Finland stayed with the Eurocorps until 2005, Austria until 2011.

With the Strasbourg Treaty of February 26, 2009, the Eurocorps acquired its own legal personality .

On December 15, 2011, Poland announced that it would become the tenth state to provide troops to the Eurocorps.

Calls

On November 29, 1995 the Eurocorps was declared operational by the commanding general of the Eurocorps.

Balkans

At the beginning of 1998 soldiers of the corps reinforced the SFOR headquarters. In 2000 the corps set up the KFOR headquarters in Kosovo .

Afghanistan

In 2004, the Eurocorps provided the core of the headquarters for ISAF in Kabul , again from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 as part of the management of the land forces component of the NATO Response Force  7 (NRF 7) and in the second half of 2010 (NRF 15). In 2012 the Eurocorps sent 275 officers, NCOs and men to three different headquarters in Kabul. On January 24, 2013, the last parts of the second contingent returned to Strasbourg. This was the fourth mission of the Eurocorps.

Mali

The European training mission EUTM Mali (European Training Mission) in Mali is a project of the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union. The mission shows the European Union's will to step up its security and defense efforts. With 57 soldiers, the Eurocorps provides the core staff and thus supports Germany in carrying out this mission in the second half of 2015. The mission was led from July 2015 to mid-December 2015 by the Chief of Staff of the Eurocorps, Brigadier General Franz Xaver Pfrengle .

Central African Republic

From mid-2016 to September 2018 [out of date] the Eurocorps with French, Spanish and Belgian members (62 soldiers) will participate in the European training mission for the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic ( EUTM RCA ) initially in the first contingent under the leadership of the Deputy Commander of the Eurocorps, Major General Éric Hautecloque-Raysz.

Association and beret badges

The association badge shows an upward pointing sword on an EU blue background and the stylized representation of the European continent with nine (only partially visible) distorted gold stars. The association badge is worn on the left sleeve of the service suit - at least for the German parts of the corps . The beret badge is the same for all members of the corps staff and is based on the association badge. In addition, it shows the twelve stars that are also shown on the flag of the European Union and are only incomplete and distorted on the association badge. The German troops also wear this badge and not, as usual, one that shows their troop type. Like the soldiers of the Franco-German Brigade, who have their own badge, the soldiers wear a navy blue beret.

organization

Organization chart Eurocorps staff

The Eurocorps is led by a three-star general . A two-star general is assigned to him as deputy. The chief of staff holds the rank of major general or brigadier general. He has three deputies (each a one-star general ): for operations, for support and for training / resources. There are also connecting elements for the Navy and the Air Force. The standing time of the members of the staff is around three to four years, the generals change every two years.

The Multinational Command Support Brigade (Bde MNCS) is used to support the rod (z. B. Command Support ( Fernmelder and Electronic Warfare ), pioneers , military police and NBC defense ). It is only fully activated when required and can be put together differently depending on the type of use. In peacetime the brigade has only 80 soldiers.

Eurocorps, Strasbourg, January 31, 2013.

The Eurocorps is not a large unit that is constantly present; units of troops are subordinated to it only when necessary. For example , the Eurocorps has already worked successfully with the Franco-German Brigade in operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan as well as within the framework of the NATO Response Force in 2006 and 2010.

In addition to the need-based subordination under EU and SHAPE , the national contingents are also managed nationally for the constantly present units. The German units, for example, are managed by the Army Command .

The officers' association of the Eurocorps has been called CLUO (Club des Officiers) since 2004. The NCOs have given themselves the name CLUSO (Club des Sous-officiers). Both associations contribute to the cohesion of the members and their families in a multinational community.

English is the operational language.

Commanding generals

The following commanding generals have so far led the corps:

No. Surname nation Beginning of the appointment End of appointment
14th Lieutenant General Laurent Kolodziej France 5th Sep 2019
13 Lieutenant General Jürgen Weigt Germany Sep 7 2017 5th Sep 2019
12 Lieutenant General Alfredo Ramírez Spain Jun 25, 2015 Sep 7 2017
11 Lieutenant General Guy Buchsenschmid Belgium Jun 28, 2013 Jun 25, 2015
10 Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove France Jul 1, 2011 Jun 28, 2013
09 Lieutenant General Hans-Lothar Domröse Germany 25 Sep 2009 Jul 1, 2011
08th Lieutenant General Pedro Pitarch Spain 21 Sep 2007 25 Sep 2009
07th Lieutenant General Charles-Henri Delcour Belgium 23 Sep 2005 21 Sep 2007
06th Lieutenant General Jean-Louis Py France 4th Sep 2003 23 Sep 2005
05 Lieutenant General Holger Kammerhoff Germany Dec 10, 2001 4th Sep 2003
04th Lieutenant General Juan Ortuño Such Spain Nov 26, 1999 Dec 10, 2001
03 Lieutenant General Leo Van Den Bosch Belgium Jan. 1, 1998 Nov 26, 1999
02 Lieutenant General Pierre Forterre France Jan. 31, 1996 Dec 15, 1997
01 Lieutenant General Helmut Willmann Germany Oct 1, 1993 Jan. 31, 1996

Current German generals in the Eurocorps

German Brigadier General Stefan Geilen has been Head of Influence & Assistance (DCOS I&A) in the Eurocorps since July 1, 2017 .

Eurocorps structure 2011

  • Multinational Corps Staff Strasbourg
  • Multinational Command Support Brigade
  • the Franco-German Brigade
  • an État-Major de Force , France (brigades of the French Army are subordinate to the État-Major de Force if necessary)
  • a division, Germany
  • the 1st Medium Brigade, Leopoldsburg , Belgium
  • a reconnaissance company, Diekirch , Luxembourg
  • the Cuartel General del Mando de Fuerzas Pesadas , Spain with three heavy brigades
  • Telecommunication company Eurokorps Lebach

The exact composition varies, but remains qualitatively comparable.

Eurocorps structure 2007

Member States:
  • Member States
  • possible members
  • WEU & assoc. States
  • In 2007 the Eurocorps is structured as follows:

    • Multinational Corps Staff
    • Multinational Staff and Supply Battalion
    • 10th Panzer Division , Germany
    • État-Major de Force 3 , France
      • a tank brigade
      • a Mechanized Brigade
      • Support troops as needed
    • División de Infantería Mecanizada Brunete n.1 , Spain
      • 10. Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Guzmán el Bueno"
      • 11. Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Extremadura"
      • 12th tank brigade "Guadarrama"
    • COMOPSLAND , Belgium
      • Medium brigade
      • Light Brigade
      • Reconnaissance company, Luxembourg
    • Franco-German Brigade
      • since April 1, 2007 Eurocorps telecommunications company in Sigmaringen

    Eurocorps structure 1997/98

    • Multinational Corps Staff
    • Multinational staff and supply battalion in Strasbourg (a mixed support group consisting of national companies, equipped with the FAMAS assault rifle and the MG3 standard machine gun )
    • Franco-German Brigade in the Robert Schuman Barracks in Müllheim in the Markgräflerland (5,000 soldiers)
    • 10th German Panzer Division in Sigmaringen (18,000 soldiers)
    • 1st Belgian Mechanized Division in Saive (Belgium)
    • 42 e régiment de transmission (42nd French telecommunications regiment) in Achern
    • 1 re division blindée (1st French armored division) with staff in Baden-Baden ; from July 1999: 1 re brigade mécanisée (1st mechanized brigade)
    • a reconnaissance company ( Luxembourg ) that was accepted into the Belgian 1st Mechanized Division on December 11, 1996
    • 10th mechanized infantry brigade "Guzmán el Bueno" in Córdoba (Spain) (4,500 soldiers), from October 1998 the entire 1st Mechanized Division with staff in Burgos was assigned to the Eurocorps (then 15,000 soldiers)

    Participating States

    Eurocorps, parade in Strasbourg on January 31, 2013.
    "Framework nations"
    Additional nations

    See also

    literature

    • Matthias Blazek: The history of the Eurocorps - 25 years in the life of one of the most popular military alliances. With a special look at the development of Franco-German cooperation. Stuttgart: ibidem-Verlag, 2017.
    • Uwe R. Proll: Eurocorps - The manual . Vol. 1, Bonn: ProPress Verlag GmbH, 1994.
    • Philipp Wassenberg: The Eurocorps - Security Law Environment and International Legal Significance of a Large Multinational Association . Baden-Baden: Nomos, 1999.
    • Eurocorps: European Defense - A Critical Review . Vol. 3, Bonn: ProPress Verlag GmbH, 2002.
    • Wichard Woyke: German-French relations since reunification - the tandem is back on its feet (= basis for Europe). 2nd edition, VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2004, p. 156. ISBN 3-8100-4174-2 .

    Web links

    Commons : Eurocorps  - collection of images, videos and audio files

    Individual evidence

    1. a b c d Cf. Domröse, Hans-Lothar 2011: “Two years commanding general of the Eurocorps. A personal assessment. ”In: European Security No. 10/2011. Pp. 13-16.
    2. Eurocorps welcomes Austria and Finland to www.bmlv.gv.at, accessed on March 12, 2017.
    3. Cf. “La participation de la France aux corps militaires européens permanents” ( Memento of the original from January 26, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , www.ccomptes.fr (PDF). @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ccomptes.fr
    4. Peacekeeping: Poland Joins Euro Corps. In: strategypage.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017 .
    5. About Military Training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) - EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission. Retrieved October 18, 2017 (English).
    6. De la mission EUFOR / RCA à l'EUMAM RCA et (enfin?) À l'EUTM RCA on JournaldeBangui.com (French), accessed on March 12, 2017.
    7. Directive No. 2 pour le Général commandant le Corps européen v. November 14, 1994: Langues au Corps européen.

    Coordinates: 48 ° 32 '54.9 "  N , 7 ° 46' 57.4"  E