Verteidigungsministerium

Verteidigungsministerium is the government department responsible for national defense and the armed forces in German-speaking countries. In Germany the official designation is Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (BMVg), headed by the Federal Minister of Defence, a member of the federal cabinet. The ministry provides civilian leadership of the military and formulates defense policy while coordinating military affairs with Parliament, allied partners, and other parts of the government.

Key responsibilities include defense policy and strategic planning, the readiness and organization of the armed forces, budget oversight and procurement, and international defense cooperation. The ministry oversees military operations abroad, crisis management, and, to varying degrees, civil protection and disaster response in peacetime. It also works with allies on security issues such as NATO and EU defense initiatives, arms control, and defense research and development.

Structure and accountability typically involve the minister supported by a secretary of state or state secretaries, a number of directorates-general or divisions, and subordinate agencies responsible for equipment, logistics, and information technology. The ministry operates within a framework of parliamentary oversight, including the defense committee, budget approval, and periodic reporting to the Bundestag. The chief military appointment, such as the inspector general of the armed forces, reports to the minister and serves to ensure military readiness and professional standards within the Bundeswehr.

Variants of the term exist in other German-speaking states. In Austria, for example, the corresponding department is the Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung (and Sport), reflecting country-specific structures and naming conventions. The concept of a Verteidigungsministerium is thus central to state defense governance in German-speaking Europe while differing in organization and scope across countries.