thumb|Heliborne training (2000 [[ILA Berlin Air Show)]]

The (KSK) (English: Special Operations Forces) is the special forces command of the German Army ().

Formed in 1996, it is a brigade-level unit responsible for covert operations, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, direct action, high-value target missions, irregular warfare, ISTAR, rapid response in military emergencies, and other special operations.

The Special Air Service (SAS), the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and the German Federal Police's GSG 9 (') of the former Federal Border Guard (', BGS) served as models for the formation of the KSK.

The unit has received decorations and awards from NATO, the United States, and allied forces. KSK personnel have participated in joint counterterrorism operations, notably in the Balkans and the Middle East.

History

From 1973 until the KSK's formation in 1996, the West German (and later Federal Republic of Germany) government assigned all anti-irregular military, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, long-range penetration, and special warfare operations activities to GSG 9, a highly trained police force created shortly after the Munich massacre that transpired during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Before 1973, the army's Fernspählehrkompanie 200 (FSLK200) (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Company), the navy's Kampfschwimmer (KSM) (commando frogmen), and until 1989 the Special Weapons Escort Companies—Sonderwaffenbegleitkompanien were the only military units comparable to anything that other nations may have seen as dedicated special forces units.

One political reason for the establishment of the KSK was that in 1994, during the Rwandan genocide, German citizens had to be evacuated by Belgian Para-Commando Brigade. This task was carried out by special operations forces of the former colonial power Belgium as agreed upon in advance by the NATO partners. The Federal Government of Germany chose not to intervene directly, as it believed neither the Federal Border Protection's GSG 9 counterterrorism and hostage rescue unit nor the German Army Paratrooper Commando Companies B1 were trained for irregular warfare, and there was also a lack of necessary transport capability. Several Belgian soldiers died during this operation. Due to the political pressure, the need to have its forces ready for special operations within NATO became evident.

Following the KSK's activation on 20 September 1996,

As is to be expected with such units, specific operational details such as success and casualty rates are considered to be top secret and withheld even from the highest-ranking members of the Bundestag. This practice has elicited some serious concerns, resulting in an agreement to increase both transparency and accountability, by disclosing mission details to selected members of the Bundestag, about the future deployments of KSK forces.

On 4 May 2013, the KSK reported its first casualty. First Sergeant Daniel Wirth was fatally shot in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan during operation "Maiwand". US Army forces were part of the attempted rescue mission.

In 2018, the German Federal Criminal Police Office uncovered a plot involving unknown KSK soldiers to murder prominent German politicians such as Claudia Roth, Heiko Maas and Joachim Gauck among others, and carry out attacks against immigrants living in Germany. Also, earlier that same year in a separate investigation, the State prosecutors in the city of Tübingen investigated whether neo-Nazi symbols were used at a "farewell" event involving members of KSK.

In June 2020, German defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced that the unit would be partially disbanded due to growing far-right extremism within the ranks. The KSK had become partially independent from the chain of command, with a toxic leadership culture. One of the force's four companies where extremism is said to be the most rife was to be dissolved and not replaced.

In 2025, it's reported that the KSK is using the Multitarn camo pattern, a copy of the famous MultiCam pattern

Commanders

  • 1996–1998: Brigadier General Fred Schulz
  • 1998–2000: Brigadier General Hans-Heinrich Dieter
  • 2000–2003: Brigadier General Reinhard Günzel
  • 2003–2005: Brigadier General Carl-Hubertus von Butler
  • 2005–2007: Brigadier General Rainer Hartbrod
  • 2007–2010: Brigadier General Hans-Christoph Ammon
  • 2010–2013: Brigadier General Heinz Josef Feldmann
  • 2013–2017: Brigadier General Dag Knut Baehr
  • 2017–2018: Brigadier General Alexander Sollfrank
  • 2018–2021: Brigadier General Markus Kreitmayr
  • 2021–2024: Brigadier General Ansgar Meyer
  • 2024–present: Brigadier General Alexander Krone

† Brigadier general Dag Baehr has previously served twice as a field officer in the KSK: First, under the command of Brigadier General Schulz, when it was founded from 1996 until 1999 and then again between 2004 until 2007 under the command of Brigadier General Hartbrod.

Structure

thumb|right|KSK land based training operations (2017)

thumb|right|KSK [[Air assault|air insertion training (2017)]]

The KSK is a brigade-level unit of the regular army divided into two battalion-sized departments Operational Forces and Support Forces and the HQ and the Development Group.

Organization

  • Kommando Spezialkräfte
  • KSK Staff
  • Psychological Service
  • Language Service
  • Staff and Command Support Company
  • 1st Commando Company
  • 3rd Commando Company
  • 4th Commando Company
  • Special Commando Company
  • Special Reconnaissance Company
  • Signal Company
  • Support Company
  • Quartermaster/ Handling Platoon
  • Maintenance Platoon
  • Parachutes/ Air Handling Platoon
  • Medical Center
  • Training Department
  • Development Department

In 2020 the 2nd Commando Company was dissolved "after an accumulation of incidents and a notable build-up of right-wing extremists in the unit".

Operational forces

Combat-ready units are divided into three commando companies of approximately one hundred men. Each of the three commando companies has five specialized platoons, each with a unique specialty and ability that can be adapted to both the terrain and situation, depending on type action(s) required:

  • Command Platoons
  • 1st Platoon: vehicle insertion
  • 2nd Platoon: airborne insertion
  • 3rd Platoon: amphibious operations
  • 4th Platoon: operations in special geographic or meteorological surroundings (desert, jungle, mountain, or arctic regions)
  • 5th Platoon: reconnaissance, intelligence operations and sniper/counter-sniper operations

There are four commando squads in every platoon. Each of these squads consists of four equally skilled members who have been hand-picked from the German Army into the platoon that best suits their abilities. Each squad member is specially trained as a weapons expert, medic, combat engineer, or communications expert, respectively. Additionally, some groups may contain other specialists, such as heavy weapons or language experts.

Special Commando Company

The special commando company was established in 2004. This company is staffed with specially trained KSK personnel in the fields of Joint terminal attack controller, IED disposal or handling of military working dogs which may support operations of the commando companies as required. KSK personnel serving in the special commando company are commonly seasoned hands having previously served in one of the three commando companies.

Special Reconnaissance Company

The Special Reconnaissance Company is staffed with KSK members and further personnel specialised in reconnaissance. This company may support the operations of the three commando companies with reconnaissance and surveillance abilities, for instance with the use of UAVs.

Female members may also operate as Female Engagement Teams if the task is required. This is partially because the KSK was previously unable to reach its targeted number of troops. The KSK was no longer restricted to male troops after the Bundeswehr opened all units to women in 2001. As of 2021, women occupied auxiliary positions in KSK.

The KSK is known to regularly participate in joint training exercises and personal exchange programs with SOFs from Allied nations which includes:

  • Australian - 2nd Commando Regiment
  • Danish - Jaeger Corps
  • British - Special Air Service
  • Canadian - Joint Task Force 2
  • Irish - Army Ranger Wing
  • Polish - JW GROM
  • United States - Delta Force

See also

  • German special forces
  • Special Operations Command (SOCOM) – U.S. equivalent command

References