Airmobile Operations Division (Germany)

Airmobile Operations Division Division Luftbewegliche Operationen
Airmobile Operations Division Shoulder Insignia
Active	In current form: July 2002 – June 2014
Country	Germany
Branch	Army
Type	Division
Role	Air assault, providing specialized forces
Size	About 14,600 soldiers
Part of	German Army
Garrison/HQ	Veitshöchheim
Motto	Forwards! Nach vorn!
Anniversaries	July 1
Engagements	Kosovo war War in Afghanistan Operation Harekate Yolo II Kunduz Province Campaign
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Benedikt Zimmer
Notable commanders	Lieutenant General Hans-Otto Budde, former commander of the German Army

Airmobile Operations Division (Division Luftbewegliche Operationen) was a division of the German Army. The division was founded on 1 July 2002 and reported for duty 8 October 2002.^[1] Airmobile Operations Division consisted of approximately 14,500 soldiers, 350 of which were stationed at divisionary headquarters in Veitshöchheim, Germany.^[2]

In October 2011 the German Federal Ministry of Defence announced a reorganisation/reduction of the German Armed Forces. As a consequence, Airmobile Operations Division was dissolved and those units not being disbanded altogether were either transferred to other parts of the armed forces or incorporated into a different command structure.^[3] The division itself was officially disbanded on 26 June 2014^[4] and was integrated into the 10th Armoured Division which relocated from Sigmaringen to Veitshöchheim.^[5]

Tasks

The tasks of the division were unique within the modern German military in that it was able to provide air mobility as well as ground based fire support, aerial defence and counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear assets to all parts of the German military. With an additional infantry component, it was also capable of limited air assault operations. The division's command was prepared to fulfil a role as Framework Headquarters for NATO and EU operations. Troops of Airmobile Operations Division also render assistance to civilian authorities during disaster relief operations.^[6]

Coat of arms and motto

The coat of arms of Airmobile Operations Division depicts a flying black eagle, with its wings turned upright, holding a sword in its claws on a argent. Below the eagle a red arrow is shown. The argent symbolises dedication and the eagle strength, courage and bravery. The eagle's upturned wings, somewhat unusual in heraldry, represent the lunging out for new power. The sword stands for strike capability and penetration depth. The red arrow illustrates the third dimension, the depth of space and the dynamics of the division. The framing silver cord shows the status as a division. The maroon coloured seam corresponds with the traditional beret colour of the Army Aviation Corps and airborne forces.

The division's motto was the same as the German Army Aviation Corps': Nach vorn! which translates as either "Forward!" or "To the front!".

Deployment

Units of Airmobile Operations Division were deployed in a number of missions under the aegis of either the United Nations, the European Union or NATO.

SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ended 2003)
KFOR (ended 2003)
Disaster relief following the earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan (2005-2006))
EUFOR RD Congo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2006)
ISAF in Afghanistan (from 2002)

Structure

Airmobile Operations Division's staff was based at Veitshöchheim. The division incorporated units from various branches of the German Army. These units were stationed all over Southern and Central parts of Germany.

The following units were directly subordinate to Airmobile Operations Division:

Name of unit	Based at	Note
Army Band 12	Veitshöchheim	Incorporated into the Military Music Center of the Bundeswehr in 2013
Signals Battalion Airmobile Operations Division	Veitshöchheim	Disbanded in 2013
Light Transport Helicopter Regiment 30	Niederstetten	Incorporated into the Rapid Forces Division
Medium Transport Helicopter Regiment 15 "Münsterland"	Rheine	Disbanded on 7 March 2013; helicopters transferred to the German Air Force's Helicopter Wing 64^[7]
Medium Transport Helicopter Regiment 25 "Oberschwaben"	Laupheim	Disbanded on 5 March 2013; re-established as the German Air Force's Helicopter Wing 64^[8]
Artillery Demonstration Regiment 345	Kusel	Relocated to Idar-Oberstein and incorporated into 10th Armoured Division^[9]
CBRN Defence Regiment 750 "Baden"	Bruchsal	Restructured into CBRN Defence Battalion 750 "Baden" and now part of Joint Support Service
Light CBRN Defence Company 120	Sonthofen	Disbanded
Security Battalion 12	Hardheim	Disbanded
Army Combat Support Brigade	Bruchsal	Disbanded on 31 December 2012
Airmobile Brigade 1	Fritzlar	Disbanded on 17 December 2013

The following units were subordinate to Airmobile Brigade 1:

Name of unit	Based at	Note
Staff Company	Fritzlar	Disbanded on 17 December 2013
Air Assault Infantry Regiment 1	Schwarzenborn	Transferred to 21st Armoured Brigade;^[10] to be disbanded and reformed as Light Infantry Battalion 1
Light Transport Helicopter Regiment 10 "Lüneburger Heide"	Faßberg	Incorporated into the Rapid Forces Division
Attack Helicopter Regiment 26 "Franken"	Roth	Disbanded on 30 June 2014
Attack Helicopter Regiment 36 "Kurhessen"	Fritzlar	Incorporated into the Rapid Forces Division

Commanders

Nr	Name	Begin	End
4	Brigadier General Benedikt Zimmer	20 December 2012	26 Juni 2014
3	Major General Erhard Drews	12 February 2009	20 December 2012
2	Major General Carl-Hubertus von Butler	25 August 2005	12 February 2009
1	Major General Dieter Budde	2002	25 August 2005