Feldjäger

For the German military police in World War II, seeFeldjägerkorps,Geheime Feldpolizei,andFeldgendarmerie.

"Field Huntsmen" redirects here. For other topics, seehuntsman (disambiguation).

Feldjäger or Military Police Command
Beret insigniaof the Feldjäger
Active	6 October 1955 – Present
Country	Germany
Branch	StreitkräftebasisBundeswehr
Type	Army,Navy,Air Force,Jägertruppe (Army part)
Role	Military Police
Size	3 regiments
Garrison/HQ	Scharnhorst Kaserne inHanover
Motto(s)	Suum cuique"to each his own"
Insignia
Black MP brassard of the Feldjäger

Feldjägercontrolling military traffic.

FeldjägerK9 exercise.

Feldjägerriot control exercise.

ALAPV Enokof theFeldjäger

FeldjägerMercedes-Benz Vito patrol vehicle.

FeldjägerNissan Patrol.

TheFeldjäger(German:[ˈfɛltˌjɛːɡɐ]) are Germany'smilitary police.The termFeldjäger,literally meaning fieldhuntsmenor fieldJäger,has a long tradition and dates back to the mid-17th century.

History

The first modernFeldjägerunit was activated on 6 October 1955 when the bill creating theBundeswehrwas signed. The new law called for a military police training company to be established at the formerLuftwaffehospital inAndernach.The original intention was to call the military police units of theBundeswehr"Militärpolizei",literally military police. However, objections arose on the part of the federal states which had been given the mission of law enforcement. They wanted the use of the word"Polizei"to be unique to them and so the name was changed toFeldjägerin 1956.

Organization

TheFeldjägercorps serves all component forces of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) i.e.,German Army,German NavyandGerman Air Force.The Military Police Command has its headquarters in Scharnhorst Kaserne inHanoverand is under the operational command of theBundeswehr's Territorial Tasks Commandof theStreitkräftebasis. TheFeldjägerhave three regiments of military police stationed around Germany which are subordinate to the Military Police Command as is theFeldjägerSchool which is also in Hanover, but in the Hauptfeldwebel-Lagenstein-Kaserne (previously Emmich-Cambrai-Kaserne).

Missions

The 24FeldjägerMP Stations located throughout Germany work around the clock to perform theFeldjägers'main mission which is to be a central point of contact for all soldiers who need assistance. There is a nationwide emergency phone number (0800 190 9999) soBundeswehrsoldiers can contact their nearestFeldjägerstation at any time.

TheFeldjägeralso have four more missions: Maintaining military discipline and order, military traffic control, security operations and investigations.

Military discipline

To maintain military discipline, theFeldjägerperform regular patrols on-post and at places whereBundeswehrpersonnel congregate. They also patrol at large military events, conduct checks in military installations, assist in collecting and returning stragglers and apprehended soldiers, support the military courts of justice, and assist in collecting and transporting prisoners of war.

Controlling military traffic

When directing and controlling military traffic,Feldjägerwork closely with the civilian police to improve traffic safety and protect soldiers.Feldjägertraffic missions therefore include route reconnaissance and marking of convoy routes, preparing reports on road accidents withBundeswehrinvolvement, directing and controlling military traffic, escorting military oversize or hazardous material vehicles, assisting with the planning and supervision of military traffic, safety checks on military hazardous material vehicles, and setting up military traffic networks.

Security operations

Feldjägersecurity operations prevent crimes against the German Federal Armed Forces and prevent illegal disturbances of officialBundeswehrceremonies. In addition,Feldjägercan be tasked to protect allied armed forces and provide personal security protection for high-riskBundeswehrofficials. They also secure thecommand postsof large units, escort VIPs, safeguard conferences and exhibitions, secure military property, assist commanders in physical security matters, and performriot controlmissions.

Investigations and inquiries

Investigations and inquiries range from reporting serious accidents, analyzing matters of official interest, assisting in the investigation of military offenses, and searching forAWOLs.TheFeldjägercorps also hasmilitary working dog(MWD) teams. The dogs are first trained to be patrol dogs and then as sniffer dogs at theBundeswehrMWD school in Ulmen, around 60 km west ofKoblenz.Their teams assist in the search for explosives and drugs.

Overseas deployments

Deployed Units

On overseas deployments,Feldjägersupport the respective contingent by performing military police tasks. They are frequently employed in multinational military police units and not only monitor the behaviour of German soldiers in the area of operations, they also cooperate closely with local authorities, police, organizations, or the military police of other states under theCharter of the United Nations.House searches for illegal weapons and explosives are the day-to-day business in foreign deployments. One mission only performed overseas, for example, is the airport security and border clearance mission.

Training

To be able to conduct these varied and challenging missions,Feldjägersoldiers are sent to numerous training courses at theFeldjägerSchool inHannoveror to specialist courses with the civilian police. One course that allFeldjägermust complete is the proficiency test in English, which makes them excellent liaison officers when dealing with other MP forces.

Uniform

TheFeldjäger,although a joint force, wear Army uniforms because they originated as an Army branch of service. They wear redberetswith a badge derived from the PrussianOrder of the Black Eagle,with the mottoSuum Cuique(Latinmeaning "To each his own," a phrase derived fromCicero), as their branch of service emblem. The collar patches and shoulder straps are piped in orange which is theFeldjägerbranch colour.

For routine patrol missions, theFeldjägerwear the normalflecktarncamouflage uniform with"Schwarzzeug"(black gear) meaning a black MP brassard, with the legendFeldjägerin smaller letters, as well as a black belt with black holster, black handcuff holder etc. However, for representative purposes, e.g. parades, ceremonies and the motorcycle escort for senior officers,Weißzeugis worn. This is the older leather "white gear" worn before theSchwarzzeug,i.e., white belt, white gloves and a white holster worn on the left side of the belt in the tradition of sword carrying soldiers.

Jurisdiction

In Germany, theFeldjägeronly have jurisdiction over soldiers, civil employees of the Federal Armed Forces, and any civilian who enters a military compound. TheFeldjägeralso hold authority over any civilian who enters military jurisdiction if there is some issue of federal security or federal jurisdiction. TheFeldjägerwill also apprehend those violating local laws on local military posts.

Feldgendarmerie

TheFeldgendarmerie(roughly translating to "Field Police" ) were the military police units of the armies of theGerman Empire(including theWehrmacht) from post-Napoleonictimes to the conclusion ofWorld War II.

See also

• Feldgendarmerie
• Feldjägerkorps
• Geheime Feldpolizei

External links

• Kameradschaft der Feldjäger e.V.
• Official Feldjäger page on the Joint Support Service (SKB) website (in German)
• Feldjäger (unofficial)