Streitkraft

Streitkraft, in German, is a term that denotes a state’s armed forces or military power. The plural form Streitkräfte is the standard designation for a country’s military as a whole, while the singular Streitkraft is uncommon except in theoretical or idiomatic uses. The word combines Streit (combat, war) and Kraft (power or force).

In German-speaking contexts, Streitkräfte refer to the organized military apparatus, typically including land, air, and sea components, and increasingly encompassing cyber and space capabilities in modern defense structures. The term is used in legal, political, and academic discussions, as well as in government and public discourse when referring to a country’s military.

Germany provides a common example of usage: the armed forces are officially known as the Bundeswehr, with Streitkräfte used as the generic label for the force as a whole. The major service branches are Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force), and Marine (Navy). Since 2011, Germany has suspended compulsory military service, relying on voluntary and professional personnel, along with civilian and paramilitary support units; there are also specialized branches and units for cyber and territorial defense.

Austria and other German-speaking states use Streitkräfte as a generic term for the armed forces, while retaining national designations such as the Austrian Bundesheer for Austria’s defense forces. Across different countries, the exact naming and organizational structure vary, but Streitkräfte generally denotes the country’s military establishment as a unified entity.