Armed forces

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Armed forces is the designation for a specific organization of armed people ( soldiers ) that is set up, equipped, trained and led in states specifically to carry out armed struggle.

They represent one of the organizational forms of the military and are one of the most important instruments of the state (the military alliance / coalition) for the violent enforcement of political interests by military means.

In Germany, the armed forces belong to the Bundeswehr in addition to a civil administration .

Concept history

Even before the 18th century, the term military (from the Latin militaris , borrowed from the French militaire ) was generally used to denote the form of social activity in which people (groups) in states arm themselves in order to implement their political goals by force. In addition, only one armed person from the above can be used in the singular. Group.

Originally, the army or army and fleet were sufficient for a description. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that Carl von Clausewitz consistently used the comprehensive (armed forces) term in his main work Vom Kriege .

After 1850, the general term armed forces appeared in press publications and scientific publications .

Armed force is used as a synonymous term . The colloquial terms military or army do not have the same meaning (congruent) to armed forces.

In addition to the armed forces, other forms of organization of the military are named as paramilitary , militia , gendarmerie , border police , border guards , border troops and national guard . In addition, military formations of private security and military companies appear. The term "military form of organization" can also be used to describe the armed formations of communities with a pseudo-state character (e.g. in the former Islamic State caliphate in Iraq and Syria [ISIS] as well as in Iraq and the Levant [ISIL] or Taliban in the former Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ).

Functions, mission, tasks of the armed forces

Possible functions of the armed forces

Real security policy must take into account the changed conditions for the use of military force in the nuclear age by means of armed forces. The prevention of armed conflicts (wars) is given priority when assigning functions to armed forces.

The following functions are usually mapped on behalf of the armed forces:

  • Function in the context of the prevention and resolution of conflicts at the external borders of the state (of the alliance of states, the coalition);
  • Function as a military component within the state (military) alliance in the event of specific threats as well as when the powers of the armed forces are used as a link between the participating countries;
  • Function to support the internal security forces with specific threats;
  • Function in securing free communication and trade routes in all spheres;
  • Function in international arms control and disarmament in accordance with treaty;
  • Function in peacekeeping missions on behalf of the United Nations;
  • Secondary function to ensure diplomatic and state ceremonies;
  • Secondary function for rescue and assistance in the event of accidents and catastrophes as well as assistance for the general public.

Order of the armed forces

The armed forces, as carriers of state power equipped with war weapons, fulfill sovereign tasks to ensure external security. In most countries, they can also be entrusted with tasks to reinforce the police to protect internal security if there is a special need and in certain cases.

In addition to defense, the armed forces can also receive more far-reaching assignments, such as peacekeeping in accordance with Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter (e.g. in international blue helmet operations), the enforcement of economic and political interests within the framework of contractual international alliance obligations, rescue and aid (disaster relief) as well as ensuring diplomatic and state ceremonies.

Tasks using the example of the Bundeswehr

The White Paper on Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr (2016) derives the mandate for the Bundeswehr, as an essential instrument of Germany's security and defense policy, from the constitutional requirements as well as from Germany's values, interests and strategic priorities.

Derived from its mandate, the Bundeswehr performs the following tasks in a nationwide approach:

  • National and alliance defense within NATO and the EU;
  • international crisis management, including active military and civil-military contributions;
  • Homeland security, national risk and crisis management and subsidiary support services in Germany;
  • Partnership and cooperation beyond the EU and NATO;
  • humanitarian emergency and disaster relief.

In addition, the following tasks must be performed throughout:

  • Defense aspects of state cybersecurity, contributions to the state picture of the situation in the cyber and information space within the framework of national and multinational security precautions as well as ensuring cybersecurity in the federal defense networks;
  • Support services for the maintenance and further development of national key technology fields as well as for the promotion of partnership, in particular European and Atlantic approaches in research, development and use of skills and
  • all measures to maintain operations at home and abroad.

Features, composition, structure, replenishment and leadership

Characteristic features of the armed forces

The respective political order of the state has a determining effect on the political function, the social character, the historical role and the moral face of the armed forces. For the reliability of the armed forces as a political instrument, it is primarily the attitude of the officer corps that guarantees.

The military characteristics of the armed forces, such as armament, equipment, organizational and operational principles as well as fighting options are influenced by the specific political goals of the state (group of states).

Major influencing factors on the armed forces arise from the economic potential and the economic possibilities of the country (the coalition). The military-strategic conditions and military-geographic factors as well as the scientific and technical potential of the country (the coalition) determine the characteristics of the respective armed forces.

The maintenance of the armed forces is financially intensive and usually accounts for a considerable part of government spending . Therefore there are states without armed forces. In military alliances such as NATO , the financial burdens are to be distributed among several members and the military tasks for a common need for protection are to be collectively secured.

Regular and irregular armed forces

From an international law perspective, a distinction must be made between regular and irregular armed forces according to the Geneva Convention and Hague Land Warfare Regulations .

Regular armed forces are armed forces that are set up by a state on the basis of (defense) defense legislation. This also includes militias, gendarmerie (police), semi-military organizations and volunteer formations that are integrated into these armed forces at the beginning or during the course of armed conflicts and used for combat operations. According to international humanitarian law, these persons count as combatants.

As irregular forces armed forces are called that were not incorporated into the regular armed forces. These include police forces (with the exception of standby forces), militias, semi-military organizations, forces of the organized resistance movement (guerrillas, partisans) who can fight both inside and outside their own territory. Sections of the civilian population who take up arms as soon as the enemy approaches are given the same status.

According to international law, regular and irregular armed forces in armed conflict (war) must meet four conditions:

  • A commander (a commander, a leader, a single command) must be at their head and be responsible to the state for leadership;
  • they must be marked as belligerents;
  • they must wield their weapons openly and
  • they must know and comply with the norms of international law, the rules and customs of war.

To do this, the soldiers must be subject to an internal disciplinary system that enforces compliance with the norms and rules of warfare when necessary.

Building the armed forces

Forms of presence of the armed forces

With regard to the duration of the presence of military formations, from the vassal army and the knight army that emerged in the 11th century, the standing army form of presence in the feudal-absolutist countries in Europe has finally prevailed since the 17th century .

Standing armies are characterized by a constantly available number of military formations with trained soldiers under arms and a certain stock of material goods in arsenals (warehouses, bases) so that they are ready to act at any time. Advantages of the presence armed forces are seen in the better and more uniform training, as well as in the faster availability and reliability. Since the 20th century, due to the complexity of the military and the development of weapons technology, this principle of presence has become the standard and can be found in the model of the professional army .

The complementary system is a militia army (militia organization, “needs army ”) which, in contrast to the standing army, only has a relatively small tribe of professional soldiers (cadres) for training and senior staff work in peacetime. It does not have a permanent body. Crews, NCOs and the majority of officers are trained in short-term courses and exercises.

Considerable efforts should be directed towards a functioning system of mobilization. The early storage of weapons, equipment and material resources is required. Advantages are identified in the lower operating and maintenance costs and in the protection of personnel potential. Militia formations are only fully replenished, trained, deployed and managed in the specified cases.

A combination of both forms of presence can often be found. Friedrich Engels came to this fundamental insight from the wars of the 19th century as early as 1868: “[...] every rational military organization lies somewhere between the Prussian [standing army] and the Swiss [militia] - where? That depends on the circumstances. "

Another alternative is found in more than 20 states without a military. As a result, these have no standing army (armed forces). Japan is a special case: according to the constitution, no military should be maintained. The self-defense forces with a strength of almost 250,000 soldiers are in fact armed forces; they also take part in UN missions.

Readiness level of the armed forces

The main part of the modern armed forces are formed and trained in peacetime troops (forces) in the siting areas (garrisons, training grounds, berths, bases) of the country (the coalition).

The ability of the armed forces or their individual subdivision formations to begin with closed military actions or with the fulfillment of combat tasks after a certain preparation time is expressed in various degrees of readiness (levels). These levels of readiness (combat readiness) have different names, e.g. B .:

  • Garrison service, permanent standby; Guard service, 24-hour service;
  • System on duty; Alarm units, reaction forces, task forces;
  • Increased readiness (command / combat);
  • Full (combat) readiness.

In the event of an impending armed conflict (war), the troops maintained in the reduced number (forces, command organs) are brought to "war strength" by means of mobilization planned at an early stage. At the same time, additional military and non-military formations that are intended to reinforce or support the armed forces are mobilized through the reorganization.

Division into armed forces

The armed forces are divided into armed forces (TSK), special forces (SpezKr) and security forces (SstKr).

A part of the armed forces (abbreviated TSK; English military branch or armed service ) is intended as part of the armed forces for combat operations in mainly one dimension / sphere (one space / area):

The species-specific defense material (the weapon systems and equipment) as well as the specific structure, training and supply correspond to the chosen dimension / sphere.

The armed forces are usually led by a high command.

The armed forces of the Bundeswehr consist of the 3 armed forces: Army, Air Force and Navy as well as 3 other military organizational areas: the Armed Forces Base (SKB), the Cyber ​​and Information Room (CIR) and the Central Medical Service of the Bundeswehr.

Other types of troops, weapons and forces

Other genera may belong to the armed forces, e.g. B .:

  • Coastal troops of the (sea) war fleet with marine infantry, coastal rocket artillery;
  • Sea landing forces from the land forces (the army).

Structural elements in the armed forces

Tactical structural elements

As tactical units are referred to: the squad , the (armored) occupation , the (artillery) operation ; the group , the half-train, the squad / the pair (flying objects); the train , the swarm / the chain (flying objects); the company / battery / squadron (flying objects). The battalion , the division as the largest tactical unit, is also classified as the (smallest) tactical unit.

Their (structurally pure) inventory only includes one type of (troop) armed forces, (force) aviation types, special troops and services. The allocation of support and reinforcement funds from other branches, special forces and services is common.

The unit leaders carry the designation: troop, gun, group, platoon leader; (Tank) commander; Company / battery commander; Commander of the battalion / division.

The structural elements are considered tactical units : regiment , squadron, independent battalions (departments). In various branches of the armed forces, the brigade is viewed as a tactical unit.

The structure of the units led by a commander always has units of several types of (troop) branches of arms, (forces) aviation branches, special troops and services that are necessary for the (tactical) combat of combined weapons. The allocation of further reinforcement, support and security funds from other classes, special troops and services is possible.

The following are referred to as a tactical unit : the brigade and the division - the largest tactical unit, also known as a large unit. In terms of structure, the divisions led by a commander always have troop units and units of several types of (troop) branches of arms, (force) aviation branches, special troops and services that guarantee a high degree of independence in tactical combat operations with associated weapons. You have a high degree of independence in administration and care. The allocation of further reinforcement, support and security funds from other branches, special troops and services is the rule.

According to the armed forces, divisions are divided into: Mechanized Division, Panzergrenadier, Motorized Rifle, Tank, Airborne, Fighter Pilot, Fighter Airplane, Marine Infantry Division.

The brigades form the main part of the divisions in some countries. In addition to the brigade command organs, their structural inventory includes the brigade troops (troops and units) of several types of (troop) branches of arms, (forces) aviation branches, special troops and services. The stock is not constant.

According to the armed forces, brigades are divided into: infantry, mechanized infantry, armored infantry, motorized rifle, tank, rocket, artillery, engineer, submarine, destroyer, border brigades.

Operational force formations

The corps is classified as an operational-tactical association (also an association) .

The operational units led by a corps commander (commanding general) have in their regular inventory two to four tactical units as well as corps troops (troops and units) of several types of (troop) branches of arms, (force) branches of aircraft, special troops and services for independent operational combat operations (operations) are required. The allocation of additional reinforcement, support and security funds from other categories, special troops and services depends on the operational tasks set.

A distinction is made according to the armed forces: army corps, fighter pilot corps, bomb pilot corps, air defense corps, fleet base.

The armed forces formation Army is referred to as an operational association .

The army is an operational association of the armed forces led by a commander , which in its structural composition includes not only the army command organs but also the army troops (troops and units) of several types of (troop) branches of arms, (forces) aviation branches, special troops and services. The inventory is not constant, it is influenced by the operational tasks to be solved.

The changing inventory includes four to six tactical units (division, brigade), which are required for independent operational combat operations (army operations, battles). In individual cases, operational-tactical units (corps) are included. The allocation of additional reinforcement, support and security funds from other categories, special troops and services depends on the operational tasks set.

A distinction is made according to the armed forces: (general) army, tank army, airborne army, air army, air defense army.

Colloquially, the term army is used both for the total armed forces of a state and only for the land forces (the army).

Operational-strategic armed forces formations

The following are designated as operational unification : the front , the army group , the army group .

The front is that of a commander (commander in chief) guided highest operative association of operational organizations of the armed forces of independent operational-tactical associations Military Branches as well as tactical organizations, military units and units of special troops and services.

The inventory is not constant, it depends on the tasks to be solved and the character of the respective theater of war . Its structural inventory includes an operational command body and a flexibly assigned number of front-line troops (units and units) of several types of (troop) branches of arms, (force) branches of aircraft, special troops and services. The changing inventory includes several operational and operational-tactical units that are required for independent operational combat operations (front-line operations) on the (partial) theater of war.

If several operational associations (a group of fronts) act on a theater of war with adjacent seas, an operational-strategic association can be created which coordinates and leads strategic operations in several strategic areas and in several strategic directions.

Replenishment of the armed forces

There are three basic methods used to replenish the armed forces:

Combinations and alternating transitions in these procedures are common.

Command of the armed forces

The constitutional management of the armed forces is usually assigned to the head of state. The direct command and control over the armed forces rests with the competent minister (for defense) of the country, who in most cases exercises it through the chief of the general staff (in Germany - the inspector general) of the armed forces.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See armed forces. In: Collective of the Military Academy of the National People's Army "Friedrich Engels" (Ed.): German Military Lexicon. Berlin 1961, p. 390.
  2. ↑ a b c d e See armed forces. In: Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army a. a. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd edition, Berlin 1973, p. 354 f.
  3. ↑ a b See armed forces ( Russian Вооружённые силы ). In: Military Encyclopedic Dictionary . ( Russian Военный Энциклопедический Словарь [Wojenny Enziklopeditscheskij Slowar]). Moscow 1986, p. 158.
  4. ↑ See armed forces. In: Klaus Schubert / Martina Klein: Das Politiklexikon. Concepts, facts, connections. Federal Agency for Civic Education (Ed.), 5th, updated and expanded edition, Bonn 2011, p. 192 f.
  5. ↑ See Federal Administration and Bundeswehr. In: Klaus Schubert / Martina Klein: Das Politiklexikon. Concepts, facts, connections. Federal Agency for Civic Education (Ed.), 5th, updated and expanded edition, Bonn 2011, p. 60 f.
  6. ^ Friedrich Kluge: Etymological dictionary. 23rd, extended edition, Berlin / New York 1999, p. 559.
  7. ^ Carl von Clausewitz: From the war. Left work by General Carl von Clausewitz. Verlag des MfNV, Berlin 1957, pp. 23 to 799.
  8. ↑ See Karl Marx: The Armed Forces Against Russia. Source: Neue Oderzeitung , No. 375, from August 14, 1855. In: Marx – Engels – Werke, Volume 11, Berlin / GDR 1961, p. 485.
  9. ↑ See Correspondence on British Forces. In: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels: Gesamtausgabe (MEGA), First Department, Works / Articles / Drafts, Articles October 1857 to December 1858, Volume 16, Berlin 2018, p. 577.
  10. ^ White Paper on Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr. Published by the Federal Ministry of Defense, Berlin 2016, as of June, p. 90.
  11. ↑ See the same wording to the white paper , in: The conception of the Bundeswehr - Selected basic lines of the overall conception. Published by the Federal Ministry of Defense, Bonn 2018, April, p. 15.
  12. ↑ See Manfred G. Schmidt: Dictionary of Politics. 3rd, revised and updated edition, Stuttgart 2010, ISBN 978-3-520-40403-9 , p. 503.
  13. ↑ Author collective: Dictionary on German military history. Wed-Z. 2nd, reviewed edition, Volume 2, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-327-00478-1 , p. 954.
  14. ↑ Author collective: Dictionary on German military history. Wed-Z. 2nd, reviewed edition, Volume 2. Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-327-00478-1 , p. 641.
  15. ↑ Author collective: Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 255.
  16. ↑ Author collective: Dictionary on German military history. Wed-Z. 2nd, reviewed edition, Volume 2. Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-327-00478-1 , p. 643.
  17. ↑ See Engels an Marx in London, Manchester January 16, 1868. In: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels: Werke, Volume 32, p. 21.
  18. ↑ See Dimension - Extension, Size. (Borrowed before the 16th century, from the Latin dīmēnsiō ). In: Friedrich Kluge: Etymological dictionary. 23rd, extended edition, Berlin / New York 1999, p. 181.
  19. ↑ See Sphere - Space, Area. (Borrowed before the 11th century from Middle Latin sphera , this from Greek sphaĩra ) In: Friedrich Kluge: Etymological dictionary. 23rd, extended edition, Berlin / New York 1999, p. 778.
  20. ↑ See sphere - sphere of activity, sphere of influence. In: Duden. The German spelling. 24th, completely revised and expanded edition, Volume 1, Mannheim 2006, ISBN 978-3-411-04014-8 , p. 952.
  21. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 42.
  22. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 59 f.
  23. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 370.
  24. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 71 f.
  25. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 59 f.
  26. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 180 f.
  27. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 25 f.
  28. ↑ Author collective: Dictionary on German military history. Wed-Z. 2nd, reviewed edition, Volume 2. Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-327-00478-1 , p. 24.
  29. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 111.
  30. ↑ Author collective of the military academy "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army et al. (Ed.): Military Lexicon. 2nd Edition. Berlin 1973, p. 194.