Gentelemen,
What I have prepared below is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate up to the summer of 2008.
Regards,
Gordon
The Wachbataillon - a brief history
The Wachbataillon’s full name is;
Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (WachBtlBMVg).
Motto: SEMPER TALIS (ALWAYS THE SAME/GREAT)
Nickname: Protter or Prottersoldaten (Protocal Soldier)
It is the largest Battalion in the Bundeswehr with about 1800 members. Approximately 80% of the Battalion are conscripts. To be selected to serve in the battalion the applicant must qualify as T1 in the fitness category, be between 1.78 metres (5' 10.1") and 1.93 metres (6' 4") tall, and must not wear glasses. This also rules out anyone with a protruding belly and they are not allowed to grow beards or mustaches. This selection process takes place when the person is a new recruit. Training for the recruits to the Battalion is slightly different than for a recruit in other units with much emphasis place on perfect performance on the drill square. Other basic skills of a member of the Bundeswehr are not forgotten and he is fully trained. Members of the battalion are from all three services and have the uniforms of each service hanging in their locker so they can perform any drill mission on every occasion. Since it is not possible to perform their drill movements with their normal day duty firearm, the H&K G36, they used the Kar98k. In 1995 one of the German political parties, the SPD, criticized the use of rifles bearing NAZI era markings by the battalion and any remaining markings from that era were removed from the rifles.
The battalion consists of nine companies, at present, and it belongs to the Streitkräftebasis (Joint Service Support Command) of the Bundeswehr. It was activated on the 15th of February, 1957 in Rhineback. In 1959 it moved to Siegburg. In 1959 an Air Force Company was added. In 1973 a Naval Company was added. In 1995 two companies were moved to Berlin. In 2001 the Headquarters of the battalion was officially moved to Berlin. In 2002 a Security Company was added. Location and duties of the nine Companies are as follows:
COMPANY DUTY OF COMPANY ARM STATIONED
1./WachBtlBMVg Staff- and Supply Company Army Berlin
2.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Berlin
3.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Siegburg
4.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Navy Berlin
5.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Air Force Berlin
6.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Siegburg
7.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Berlin
8.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Berlin
What I have prepared below is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate up to the summer of 2008.
Regards,
Gordon
The Wachbataillon - a brief history
The Wachbataillon’s full name is;
Wachbataillon beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (WachBtlBMVg).
Motto: SEMPER TALIS (ALWAYS THE SAME/GREAT)
Nickname: Protter or Prottersoldaten (Protocal Soldier)
It is the largest Battalion in the Bundeswehr with about 1800 members. Approximately 80% of the Battalion are conscripts. To be selected to serve in the battalion the applicant must qualify as T1 in the fitness category, be between 1.78 metres (5' 10.1") and 1.93 metres (6' 4") tall, and must not wear glasses. This also rules out anyone with a protruding belly and they are not allowed to grow beards or mustaches. This selection process takes place when the person is a new recruit. Training for the recruits to the Battalion is slightly different than for a recruit in other units with much emphasis place on perfect performance on the drill square. Other basic skills of a member of the Bundeswehr are not forgotten and he is fully trained. Members of the battalion are from all three services and have the uniforms of each service hanging in their locker so they can perform any drill mission on every occasion. Since it is not possible to perform their drill movements with their normal day duty firearm, the H&K G36, they used the Kar98k. In 1995 one of the German political parties, the SPD, criticized the use of rifles bearing NAZI era markings by the battalion and any remaining markings from that era were removed from the rifles.
The battalion consists of nine companies, at present, and it belongs to the Streitkräftebasis (Joint Service Support Command) of the Bundeswehr. It was activated on the 15th of February, 1957 in Rhineback. In 1959 it moved to Siegburg. In 1959 an Air Force Company was added. In 1973 a Naval Company was added. In 1995 two companies were moved to Berlin. In 2001 the Headquarters of the battalion was officially moved to Berlin. In 2002 a Security Company was added. Location and duties of the nine Companies are as follows:
COMPANY DUTY OF COMPANY ARM STATIONED
1./WachBtlBMVg Staff- and Supply Company Army Berlin
2.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Berlin
3.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Siegburg
4.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Navy Berlin
5.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Air Force Berlin
6.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Siegburg
7.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Berlin
8.WachBtlBMVg Protocol- and Security Company Army Berlin
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