Brandenburg's Bundeswehr: New era under Colonel Scholtka starts now!

Brandenburg's Bundeswehr: New era under Colonel Scholtka starts now!

The Brandenburg State Command is heading into the future with a breath of fresh air at the top. Nikolaus Scholtka took over management after the handover of command on March 20, 2023 in Potsdam. The new commander was previously deputy head of the Drone Task Force in the Federal Ministry of Defense and therefore brings a lot of experience with him. Around 300 guests were present at the ceremonial handover in the New Lustgarten, who gave Colonel Olaf Detlefsen a fitting farewell to his retirement.

The state command has established itself as the central territorial command authority of the Bundeswehr and serves as the first point of contact for civil-military cooperation in Brandenburg. This became clear at the first meeting between Mayor Steffen Scheller and Colonel Scholtka, where the continuation of the cooperation between the city of Brandenburg an der Havel and the state command was discussed. Specifically, it is about further promoting participation in Germany's operational plan in the event of an emergency or disaster. This cooperation is essential because the risk of crises and disasters does not diminish.

Tasks and responsibilities

But what exactly does the state command actually do? The main task is close cooperation with civilian departments and authorities as well as looking after the reservists based in Brandenburg. At its headquarters in the Havelland barracks in Potsdam, the command coordinates civil-military cooperation across 18 district liaison commands, which are staffed by reservists. These commands are essential because they ensure integration into civilian crisis teams and are available to support districts and independent cities in the event of a disaster.

Through the principle of subsidiarity, the Bundeswehr provides assistance when civilian structures reach their limits. There are currently around 6,800 active soldiers and 2,200 civilian employees working in Brandenburg. If necessary, Bundeswehr members from other federal states can also be deployed to provide quick help in crisis situations. The state command is also the most important contact for reservist work and also coordinates military operations abroad and cooperation with aid organizations.

Integration and networking

Civil-military cooperation is not just a slogan, but a central part of the state command's mission. The basis for this cooperation is Article 35 of the Basic Law. The state command plays an important role as a military advisor to the Brandenburg government on disaster control issues. In the event of an emergency, it acts as an intermediary between the civilian staff and the armed forces.

Another aspect of the work includes the military coordination of cross-border relief efforts. For this purpose, a liaison command is available in Świecko, which organizes the necessary measures in cooperation with Polish authorities. In addition to these core tasks, the state command also operates a family care center in Storkow and a technical school care center in Berlin. Sport is taken care of by the Bundeswehr's sports support group in Frankfurt (Oder), and the homeland security forces in Brandenburg round off the range of tasks.

This makes it clear that the Brandenburg State Command is not only a military actor, but also an important partner of civil society. It remains exciting to see how the collaboration continues to develop under the new leadership of Nikolaus Scholtka. Because one thing is clear: you can never have enough good hands in times of crisis.

You can find more information on the Meetingpoint Brandenburg, OSL and Reservisten Brandenburg websites: Meeting point Brandenburg, OSL, and Reservists Brandenburg.