Truppen

Truppen is the German plural noun used to denote troops or military forces. In everyday and formal military language it refers to organized groups of soldiers, including entire formations such as divisions or corps when described collectively. The term is also used in non-military contexts to mean a performing troupe, such as a theatre or circus group.

The singular form Truppe refers to a single group or company; Truppen is the plural. The word traces to Middle High German truppe and ultimately to the French troupe, from which many European languages borrowed the term for a crowd, band, or military unit. In German usage the term appears in numerous compound forms such as Panzertruppen (armored troops), Infanterie-Truppen (infantry troops), or Truppenabteilung (troop detachment).

In historical contexts, "die Truppen" commonly denoted the armed forces of a ruler or state, as in the armies of Prussia, the German Empire, or Nazi Germany. In modern German, the Bundeswehr continues to use Truppen in official phrasing to describe personnel and formations within branches such as Heer (army) and Marine. Outside the military, "Truppen" appears in expressions like "Zirkustruppe" or "Theatertruppe" to denote performing groups, illustrating the broad semantic range from combat troops to civilian ensembles.