Regional exercise in Lüdenscheid: Optimization of civil-military help!

Von Markus Schneiderling

Regionalübung im Märkischen Kreis stärkt Zusammenarbeit zwischen Bundeswehr und zivilen Behörden zur Krisenbewältigung.
Regional exercise in the Märkisches Kreis strengthens cooperation between the Bundeswehr and the civil authorities for coping with crisis. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

In the district house in Lüdenscheid, an important regional exercise by the district connection command (KVK) of the Märkische Kreis took place on March 17, 2025. The exercise, which was carried out last Friday as part of a nationwide training series by the district and district connection commands, was the goal of optimizing the cooperation between the Bundeswehr and the civilian authorities. The State Command North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf took over the control of this important exercise.

Various crisis scenarios were simulated in the exercise, in which the coordination between the Bundeswehr, the population and disaster protection and civil infrastructure played a central role. This included ensuring smooth transport routes, logistical challenges and troop movements under difficult conditions such as locked roads and extreme weather conditions. Demonstrations were also integrated into the scenarios in order to train the emergency services comprehensively.

optimization of the processes

A central concern of the exercise was the optimization of the processes and the close cooperation between the actors involved. Senior doctor Dr. med. Fritz Lax underlined the good framework for this cooperation in the Märkisches Kreis. The crisis team manager Horst Peter Hohage emphasized the importance of regular exercises to ensure efficiency and operational readiness in the event of crisis.

The Bundeswehr and the civilian authorities are coordinated as part of civil-military cooperation (ZMZ) in order to enable an effective reaction to crisis situations. The Bundeswehr provides administrative assistance in the case of natural disasters and activates according to the principle of subsidiarity, which means that it only intervenes if the responsible authorities cannot act in good time. This is supported by the structured processes and the advisory skills of the KVK and BVK, which are ready for use around the clock.

roles and challenges

The tasks of the Bundeswehr not only include coping with crisis, but also conflict prevention and the fight against international terrorism. A comprehensive total security provision ensures that the nationals are protected from external danger. Civil defense therefore focuses on the planning and implementation of measures that maintain defense ability.

In order to carry out these measures efficiently, the Germany Operation Plan is also developed, which takes into account the home protection strategies and the geostrategic situation in Germany. Against this background, the ZMZ plays a crucial role by actively creating civil-military relationships and contributing to not endangering the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr and the multinational obligations.

The connection commands, both at the state and district level, are therefore indispensable partners for the civilian authorities and regularly take part in disaster protection meetings to promote exchange with civil bodies. An example of successful cooperation is the use of military resources in a major fire in the Grunewald in 2022, where the Bundeswehr contributed significantly to the fire fighting.

The training of the KVK and BVK is standardized and task -oriented. Great emphasis is placed on the Host Nation Support (HNS) in order to further strengthen the ability to act in an emergency. In this context, those responsible for the exercise saw the regular implementation of exercises and further training as essential in order to ensure effective crisis management in the future.

For everyone involved, it should be noted: a functioning civil-military cooperation is the key to success in coping with crises and disasters. The regional exercise of the KVK in the Märkischer Kreis has again shown how important such training is for the safety of the population.

The comprehensive preparation and the harmonized cooperation between the authorities and the Bundeswehr are evident in the successful implementation of the exercise, which is of great importance for future missions and challenges in the event of a crisis. Effective crisis management requires a solid basis for cooperation, experience and constant further training in the 21st century.

Local voice reports that the exercise represents a decisive platform for the optimization of this cooperation and creates the framework conditions for an efficient crisis coping. In addition, Wehrmed The comprehensive structures and strategic planning that are behind such exercises and how they help to ensure the security of the country.

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