Командование специальных сил Германии (Kommando Spezialkräfte)

German special forces command

The Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) is the special forces military unit and a large brigade level unit of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) for special operations and commando warfare, reconnaissance, counterterrorism, combat search and rescue as well as military advisor. The KSK reports to the Rapid Forces Division (DSK) and is stationed in the Graf Zeppelin barracks in Calw, Baden Württemberg. The British Special Air Service (SAS), the United States Special Operations Command, and the GSG 9 of the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) served as models for the formation and alignment of the KSK. The KSK has received decorations and awards from NATO, the United States, and its affiliates. KSK operatives have taken part in joint anti terror operations, notably in the Balkans and Middle East.

From 1973 until the KSK's formation in 1996, the West German (and later German) government assigned all counter terrorist and special operations activities to GSG 9, a highly trained police force created shortly after the hostage taking that transpired during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Prior to 1973, the army's Fernspäher (Long Distance Reconnaissance), the navy's Kampfschwimmer (Combat Swimmers/"Frogmen"), and (until 1989) the Special Weapons Escort Companies—Sonderwaffenbegleitkompanien were the only military units comparable to anything that other nations may have seen as dedicated special forces units. One political reason for the establishment of the KSK was that in 1994, during the genocide in Rwanda, German citizens had to be evacuated by Belgian para commandos. This task was carried out by special operations forces of the former colonial power Belgium as agreed upon in advance by the NATO partners. The Federal Government of Germany also refused to intervene on its own, as in its view neither the GSG 9 nor the Bundeswehr "Bravo Companies" were trained to operate in guerrilla situations and there was also a lack of the required transport capability. Several Belgian soldiers died during this operation. Due to the political pressure, the need to have its own forces ready for special operations within NATO became evident. Following the KSK's activation on 1 April 1997, all but one of the Fernspähkompanie have been either disbanded or merged into the newly constituted unit. Like all German military units, KSK deployments require authorization from the German Bundestag (Federal Assembly). The unit has engaged in numerous anti terror campaigns both in Europe and abroad; known engagements include operations inside Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and most recently in Afghanistan. During the War in Afghanistan, although nominally under OEF command, the KSK worked under ISAF command since 2005, carrying out numerous operations in the vicinity of the German deployment in Kabul, including a successful raid on an al Qaeda safehouse for suicide bombers in October 2006. KSK operators have commented in the German media about the restrictions placed on them by their national caveats and stated a preference for working directly for the Americans as part of OEF A as they had done as part of Task Force K Bar. As is to be expected with such units, specific operational details such as success and casualty rates are considered to be top secret and withheld even from the highest ranking members of the Bundestag. This practice has elicited some serious concerns, resulting in agreement to increase both transparency and accountability, by disclosing mission details to selected members of the Bundestag, in relation to the future deployments of KSK forces. On 4 May 2013, the KSK reported its first casualty. First Sergeant Daniel Wirth was fatally shot in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan during operation "Maiwand". US Army forces were part of the attempted rescue mission. In 2018, the German Federal Criminal Police Office uncovered a plot involving unknown KSK soldiers to murder prominent German politicians such as Claudia Roth, Heiko Maas and Joachim Gauck among others, and carry out attacks against immigrants living in Germany. Also, earlier that same year in a separate investigation, the State prosecutors in the city of Tübingen investigated whether neo Nazi symbols were used at a "farewell" event involving members of KSK. In June 2020, German defence minister Annegret Kramp Karrenbauer announced that the unit would be partially disbanded due to growing far right extremism within the ranks. The KSK had become partially independent from the chain of command, with a toxic leadership culture. One of the force's four companies where extremism is said to be the most rife was to be dissolved and not replaced.

The KSK is a brigade level unit of the regular army divided into two battalion sized departments Operational Forces and Support Forces and the HQ and the Development Group.

The special commando company was established in 2004. This company is staffed with specially trained KSK personnel in the fields of Joint terminal attack controller, IED disposal or handling of military working dogs which may support operations of the commando companies as required. KSK personnel serving in the special commando company are commonly seasoned hands having previously served in one of the three commando companies.