The Division Schnelle Kräfte (Rapid Forces Division) formerly Division Spezielle Operationen (Special Operations Division) is an airborne division of the German Army. Its headquarters staff is based at Stadtallendorf. It was created as 1st Airborne Division (1. Luftlandedivision) in 1956 and reflagged twice in 1994 and 2001 as Airmobile Forces Command/4th Division (Kommando Luftbewegliche Kräfte/4. Division), Special Operations Division and eventually Rapid Forces Division. The division leads three combat brigades and special forces troops, all of which are fully air-mobile. In June 2014, the Dutch 11 Airmobile Brigade was fully integrated into the division as part of the binational military cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands and in 2017 the Romanian 81st Mechanized Brigade followed suit.[1]
Created in 1956, 1st Airborne Division's main tasks were to act as the backbone of counterattacks behind the enemy lines of the Warsaw Pact and to respond to hostile breaks through allied front lines. The very first commanders of this unit were illustrious paratrooper generals such as Bern von Baer and Hans Kroh, both recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The 1st Airborne Division existed throughout the Cold War and was disbanded in 1994. The capability for air-transportable forces was eventually replaced by Airmobile Forces Command/4th Division, a division-sized formation the duties of which shifted to more complex scenarios of current days.
This happened mainly because of two incidents in 1994 and 1997 where German citizens had to be rescued from Rwanda and Albania, once even by foreign troops as the German military lacked of adequate forces to carry out evacuation operations on their own. One of the three existing brigades (Airborne Brigade 25 "Black Forest") was drawn on to provide the headquarters for the German Army's new special forces unit, the Kommando Spezialkräfte.
The first overseas deployment of this division took place in 1961 when its troops rendered humanitarian assistance to Morocco after a devastating earthquake. From there on 1st Airborne Division or its successors deployed troops to Somalia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Congo. The paratroopers saw extensive action in Afghanistan. With four of the nation's highest awards for gallantry—among others—having been awarded to its members, the division's Paratrooper Battalion 263 is the most decorated unit of the German Army.
Following the restructuring of the German armed forces, the Special Operations Division was transferred into the new Rapid Forces Division (German: Division Schnelle Kräfte).
In June 2014 the 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade (11th Airmobile Brigade) of the Royal Netherlands Army joined the division. The Dutch forces will remain stationed in the Netherlands but will cooperate in training and exercises of their German counterparts.[2][3][4]
Locations of the army's units: Units: Paratroopers, Special Forces, Reconnaissance, Engineer, Army Aviation
References
^"Germany, Romania and the Czech Republic deepen defence ties". NATO. NATO. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
^"Division Schnelle Kräfte" (in German). German Army. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
^"11 Luchtmobiele Brigade" (in Dutch). Dutch Army. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
^"Starkes Zeichen für gemeinsame Verantwortung in Europa" [A strong Sign for joint Responsibility in Europe] (in German). Federal Ministry of Defence. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
^"11 Luchtmobiele Brigade". Royal Netherlands Army. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^"Kommando Hubschrauber". Deutsches Heer. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
rapid, forces, division, division, schnelle, kräfte, formerly, division, spezielle, operationen, special, operations, division, airborne, division, german, army, headquarters, staff, based, stadtallendorf, created, airborne, division, luftlandedivision, 1956, . The Division Schnelle Krafte Rapid Forces Division formerly Division Spezielle Operationen Special Operations Division is an airborne division of the German Army Its headquarters staff is based at Stadtallendorf It was created as 1st Airborne Division 1 Luftlandedivision in 1956 and reflagged twice in 1994 and 2001 as Airmobile Forces Command 4th Division Kommando Luftbewegliche Krafte 4 Division Special Operations Division and eventually Rapid Forces Division The division leads three combat brigades and special forces troops all of which are fully air mobile In June 2014 the Dutch 11 Airmobile Brigade was fully integrated into the division as part of the binational military cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands and in 2017 the Romanian 81st Mechanized Brigade followed suit 1 Rapid Forces DivisionDivision Schnelle KrafteDivision Schnelle Krafte Shoulder InsigniaActive1956 1994 1994 2001 2001 present DSK since 1 January 2014 CountryGermanyBranchArmyTypeRapid deployment forceSpecial forcesRoleAir assaultAirborne forcesClose quarters combatCold weather warfareCounter insurgencyCounter terrorismDesert warfareDirect actionForward air controlForward observerLong range penetrationMountain warfareRaidingReconnaissanceSpecial operationsSpecial reconnaissanceUrban warfareSize9 500 German 2 300 DutchPart ofGerman ArmyGarrison HQStadtallendorfMotto s Ready for action at any time worldwide Einsatzbereit jederzeit weltweit AnniversariesApril 1 2001EngagementsSomalian Civil WarBosnian Civil WarAlbanian Civil WarKosovo WarAfghanistan WarOperation Enduring Freedom Operation Anaconda Operation Harekate Yolo I Operation Harekate Yolo II Operation Oqab Operation Gala e GorgCongolese Civil WarCommandersCurrentcommanderMajor General Andreas HannemannNotablecommandersLieutenant General Hans Otto Budde Lieutenant General Jorg Vollmer Contents 1 History 2 Structure 3 Geographic Distribution 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditCreated in 1956 1st Airborne Division s main tasks were to act as the backbone of counterattacks behind the enemy lines of the Warsaw Pact and to respond to hostile breaks through allied front lines The very first commanders of this unit were illustrious paratrooper generals such as Bern von Baer and Hans Kroh both recipients of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross The 1st Airborne Division existed throughout the Cold War and was disbanded in 1994 The capability for air transportable forces was eventually replaced by Airmobile Forces Command 4th Division a division sized formation the duties of which shifted to more complex scenarios of current days This happened mainly because of two incidents in 1994 and 1997 where German citizens had to be rescued from Rwanda and Albania once even by foreign troops as the German military lacked of adequate forces to carry out evacuation operations on their own One of the three existing brigades Airborne Brigade 25 Black Forest was drawn on to provide the headquarters for the German Army s new special forces unit the Kommando Spezialkrafte The first overseas deployment of this division took place in 1961 when its troops rendered humanitarian assistance to Morocco after a devastating earthquake From there on 1st Airborne Division or its successors deployed troops to Somalia Croatia Albania Bosnia Kosovo Afghanistan and Congo The paratroopers saw extensive action in Afghanistan With four of the nation s highest awards for gallantry among others having been awarded to its members the division s Paratrooper Battalion 263 is the most decorated unit of the German Army Following the restructuring of the German armed forces the Special Operations Division was transferred into the new Rapid Forces Division German Division Schnelle Krafte In June 2014 the 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade 11th Airmobile Brigade of the Royal Netherlands Army joined the division The Dutch forces will remain stationed in the Netherlands but will cooperate in training and exercises of their German counterparts 2 3 4 Structure EditMain article Structure of the German Army Organization of the Rapid Forces Division Rapid Forces Division Division Schnelle Krafte in Stadtallendorf Staff and Signal Company Rapid Forces Division in Stadtallendorf 1st Airborne Brigade Luftlandebrigade 1 in Saarlouis 11th Airmobile Brigade 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade in Schaarsbergen 5 Special Forces Command Kommando Spezialkrafte KSK in Calw Helicopter Command Kommando Hubschrauber in Buckeburg 6 10th Transport Helicopter Regiment Transporthubschrauberregiment 10 in Fassberg 30th Transport Helicopter Regiment Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 in Niederstetten 36th Attack Helicopter Regiment Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36 at Fritzlar Air Base International Helicopter Training Centre Internationales Hubschrauberausbildungszentrum in BuckeburgGeographic Distribution Edit R Forces Division 1 Airborne Brigade 260 Engineer 26 Parachute 31 Parachute 310 Recon270 Engineer 260 Recon KSK Helicopter Command 10 Helicopter 30 Helicopter 36 Helicopter 11 Airmobile Bdeclass notpageimage Locations of the army s units Units Paratroopers Special Forces Reconnaissance Engineer Army AviationReferences Edit Germany Romania and the Czech Republic deepen defence ties NATO NATO Retrieved 23 May 2017 Division Schnelle Krafte in German German Army 14 July 2014 Retrieved 14 July 2014 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade in Dutch Dutch Army Retrieved 14 July 2014 Starkes Zeichen fur gemeinsame Verantwortung in Europa A strong Sign for joint Responsibility in Europe in German Federal Ministry of Defence 13 June 2014 Retrieved 14 July 2014 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade Royal Netherlands Army 16 September 2019 Retrieved 30 April 2020 Kommando Hubschrauber Deutsches Heer Retrieved 21 April 2021 External links EditOfficial Website of the Division Schnelle KrafteCoordinates 49 00 24 66 N 12 07 22 07 E 49 0068500 N 12 1227972 E 49 0068500 12 1227972 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rapid Forces Division amp oldid 1122623030, 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