Wehrwesen
Wehrwesen is the German term for the system and administration of a state’s defense. It denotes the organization, policy, and activities that secure national defense, including the armed forces, defense administration, and related institutions and procedures. The word combines Wehr (defense) with Wesen (essence or system) and has long been used to describe a country’s defense apparatus.
Historically, the concept has evolved with German states. In the German Empire and during the Weimar Republic,
In the Federal Republic of Germany today, Wehrwesen denotes the defense sector as a whole, centered on
In scholarly and policy contexts, Wehrwesen is an analytic category for examining how a state organizes, finances,