List of German defence ministers

Federal Minister of Defence
Bundesminister der Verteidigung
Incumbent
Boris Pistorius
since 19 January 2023
Federal Ministry of Defence
Reports toThe Federal Chancellor
AppointerThe President, upon advice of the Federal Chancellor
Formation13 February 1919
First holderGustav Noske (Weimar Republic)
Theodor Blank (Federal Republic of Germany)
Websitebmvg.de

The Federal Minister of Defence (German: Bundesminister der Verteidigung) is the head of the Federal Ministry of Defence and a member of the Federal Cabinet.

According to Article 65a of the German Constitution (German: Grundgesetz), the Federal Minister of Defence is commander-in-chief (German: Inhaber der Befehls- und Kommandogewalt) of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, in peacetime.[1] Conversely, when a state of defence is declared, the Federal Chancellor becomes commander-in-chief.[2] The highest-ranking military officer in the Bundeswehr is the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (German: Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr).

The current Federal Minister of Defence is Boris Pistorius, since 19 January 2023.[3]

  1. ^ "Art 65a Basic Law". Gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Art 115b Basic Law". Gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  3. ^ tagesschau.de. "Pistorius tritt Amt an – Treffen mit Austin". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 19 January 2023.

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