Abwehrordnungen

Abwehrordnungen is a German term used in military and security studies to denote configurations of defensive dispositions, or defensive orders. Derived from Abwehr (defense; defense measures; historically the name of the German military counterintelligence service) and Ordnung (order, arrangement). The plural Abwehrordnungen is used to discuss multiple instances of such arrangements.

In military usage, Abwehrordnungen refer to the planned distribution of forces, obstacles, fire plans, and communications that constitute a defense in depth around a position, region, or fortification. They specify how units are arranged, where reserves are kept, lines of supply, and reaction procedures against specific threats such as an enemy breakthrough or flanking maneuver. The term can also describe the defensive posture of a fortress or a border installation.

In civil defense or security policy contexts, the term may describe organized defensive measures to protect civilian populations and critical infrastructure, including protective shelters, evacuation routes, and air-defense systems. The usage varies by era and author, and more common modern terms include Verteidigungsordnung or Abwehrmaßnahmen.

See also: Abwehr, Ordnung, Verteidigung, Abwehrmaßnahmen, Verteidigungsordnung.