Every Friday, we bring you a selection of stories and reports that provide a glimpse into the daily lives of the soldiers and civilian members of the Bundeswehr. These narratives highlight their service during deployments, exercises, and ordinary routines.
Building a Field Fuel Depot for Air Defender 23 The Joint Support Service is currently setting up a mobile field fuel depot in Wunstorf. This facility, consisting of eight fuel bladders, has a total capacity of 2.4 million liters of kerosene. It will be used to supply aircraft during the Air Defender 23 exercise, which is taking place in Germany starting next week. With 250 aircraft from 25 nations participating, including 100 combat jets and helicopters from the United States alone, the exercise represents the largest gathering of air forces in NATO’s history. To keep these aircraft operational, half a million liters of kerosene will be required each day.
Assisting in Firefighting Operations A forest and moor fire has been raging near Göldenitz, close to Rostock, for several days. The difficult terrain and smoldering underground fires have made firefighting efforts challenging. In response to a request for assistance from the Rostock district, the Bundeswehr has been supporting the firefighting operations since June 8. The largest transport helicopter of the Bundeswehr, a CH-53, is being deployed to aid in the efforts.
In Silent Remembrance June 7, 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of a tragic bombing attack on a bus in Kabul, Afghanistan, which claimed the lives of four German soldiers and left many others severely injured. These soldiers were nearing the end of their deployment and were on their way to the airport to return home. The Bundeswehr held commemorations nationwide to honor the fallen and the injured. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
German-Lithuanian Cooperation As part of the EU’s military mission “Irini,” which aims to enforce the arms embargo on war-torn Libya, European forces are conducting maritime inspections of vessels in the Mediterranean. Boarding teams from Germany and Lithuania recently conducted a joint inspection of the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship “Queen Sara” aboard the German auxiliary support ship “Bonn.”
Engaging in Open Dialogue Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently visited the Indo-Pacific region, including India, Indonesia, and Singapore. During his visit to Singapore, Pistorius participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue, the region’s most important security conference, where he engaged in discussions with colleagues from around the world. In India, Pistorius focused on strengthening defense policy and arms cooperation. Germany and its partners are committed to promoting a rules-based security order in the Indo-Pacific region and ensuring open and secure maritime routes.