Objektschutzbataillon

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The Objektschutzbataillon ("Physical Security Battalion") is in effect the infantry of the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe. Since the Luftwaffe cannot always depend on the German Army for the ground defence of its airfields and other air-force installations, especially in a war zone, or for the capture of enemy airfields by ground units, it has to protect these facilities itself and be responsible for the capture and securing of enemy airfields in wartime. Therefore there are special companies - or "Staffeln" - in every large Air Force unit, which are tasked with the physical security and force ground defence of air-force facilities and air squadrons, the so-called "Objektschutzstaffeln" (Physical Security squadrons). The Objektschutzbataillon consists of 5 of these squadrons. It is the Luftwaffe's infantry equivalent to the RAF Regiment or the Air Force Security Forces of the US Air Force.