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Command Flags and Pennants of the Territorial Army (Germany)

Kommandozeichen des Territorialheeres

Last modified: 2007-12-29 by jarig bakker
Keywords: territorial army | kommandozeichen | eagle (black) |
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Introduction

During the Cold War, the army branch of the Bundeswehr (the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany) was organised into the Feldheer (standing army?) and the Territorialheer (territorial army). While the Feldheer was active in peacetime, and would have been placed under NATO command in wartime, the Territorialheer's peacetime strength was only 10% of its due size. In the case of a war it would have been filled up with reservists and was to remain under national command. From 1992 on, a new concept was introduced (Heeresstruktur 5) in which the structures of Feldheer and Territorialheer were merged. A more detailed (English language) overview of how the structure of the army evolved from 1955 until today is in this webpage.

Stefan Schwoon, 14 February 2002

The German Territorialheer is the part-time reserve component of the German Army (Bundesheer). It bears some similarity to the US Army National Guard/Army Reserve. The Territorialheer is organized, trained and equipped to reinforce the Bundesheer on short notice with combat brigades and battalions (primarily mechanized infantry). During the Cold War, when West Germany followed a policy of 'forward defense', its role was considered critical. Most Territorialheer soldiers lived close to their mobilization stations, and most units were earmarked for operations in their home regions. Thus the name 'Territorial Army'. Though in the post-Cold War era the Territorialheer has been somewhat pruned, and though it has assumed some new missions, its basic structure has not changed.

The modern Territorialheer descends form the Landwehr, the reserve military force of Prussia and then Germany from the Napoleonic period through 1918. During the Weimar period it did not officially exist, since the accumulation of trained military reserves was banned by the 1919 Peace Treaty [of Versailles]. When Hitler came to power and began to build up the Army some reserve divisions were raised, but full war mobilization came so quickly that a full-fledged Landwehr was never really established.

Tom Gregg, 14 February 2002


Command Pennant for a Territorial Army Brigade

Kommandozeichen einer Territorialheer-Brigade

[Command Pennant for a Territorial Army Brigade (Germany)] image by Joseph McMillan

Green pennant with two horizontal black stripes and the national arms on the center. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.

Joseph McMillan, 9 March 2001


Command Flag for a Territorial Army Regiment

Kommandozeichen einem Territorialheer-Regiment

[Command Flag for a Territorial Army Regiment (Germany)] image by Joseph McMillan

Rectangular green flag with one horizontal black stripe and the national arms on the center. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.

Joseph McMillan, 9 March 2001


Command Pennant for a Territorial Army Batallion

Kommandozeichen einem Territorialheer-Bataillon

[Command Pennant for a Territorial Army Batallion (Germany)] image by Joseph McMillan

Green pennant with one horizontal black stripe and the national arms on the center. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.

Joseph McMillan, 9 March 2001


Command Pennant for a Territorial Army Company

Kommandozeichen einer Territorialheer-Kompanie

[Command Pennant for a Territorial Army Company (Germany)] image by Joseph McMillan

Green pennant with one vertical black stripe and the national arms on the center. Source: Schnell and Seidel 1983.

Joseph McMillan, 9 March 2001