New Inspector of the Army: Dr. Freuding brings a breath of fresh air!

New Inspector of the Army: Dr. Freuding brings a breath of fresh air!

October 2, 2025 is a remarkable day for the Bundeswehr, because Major General Dr. Christian Freuding has officially taken on the role of Inspector of the Army. This makes him the 22nd in this position and at the same time the new supreme military leader of the German land forces. In a solemn ceremony in the von Hardenberg barracks in Strausberg, General Carsten Breuer handed over the official duties to Freuding, while Defense Minister Boris Pistorius appeared as a speaker. Freuding succeeds Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, who is retiring after more than four decades of military service and was recognized for his commitment.

Born in 1971 in Weiden in the Upper Palatinate, Christian Freuding grew up in a family that worked in the publishing industry. His parents were most recently editors of the Oberpfälzer Nachrichten. After graduating from Augustinus-Gymnasium, Freuding joined the Bundeswehr in 1990 and began his training as an officer in the 12th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion in Ebern and at the Panzertruppenschule in Munster. He completed his academic career in 1999 with a doctorate in political science at the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Hamburg. Freuding has held numerous leadership and staff positions during his career, including as commander of the 9th Tank Training Brigade and head of the Ukraine Situation Center in the Ministry of Defense.

A man with a lot of experience

With a wide range of experience, Freuding brings military as well as administrative and political expertise. His numerous assignments also include leading a command in Bosnia and his role as chief of staff for German forces in Afghanistan. “He has earned recognition from our partners and allies as an expert on Ukraine,” said Boris Pistorius, who sees the reorganization of the military leadership as a necessary step. Freuding is expected to bring fresh impetus to the army's reforms, particularly in the areas of operational readiness, structure and modernization.

As head of the newly created planning and command staff in the Ministry of Defense since March 2023, Freuding has a clear connection to the current security policy situation in Europe and will in future also assume responsibility for the Office for Army Development in Cologne, the training command in Leipzig and the field army with four divisions. With this decision, the Ministry of Defense not only introduced Freuding, but also a historic innovation in military leadership: Surgeon General Nicole Schilling will become deputy to the Inspector General and is the first woman to hold this high-ranking position.

The future of the army

The appointive changes in the Bundeswehr's leadership structure are part of a broader reform strategy initiated by Defense Minister Pistorius. Not only was an important leadership position filled, but the course was also set for the future. In his career to date, Freuding has distinguished himself not only through his military leadership skills, but also through his active exchange on social media, where he offers explanations on security policy issues such as the Russo-Ukrainian War on YouTube, among other things.

An exciting chapter is now opening for Freuding, who is not only a military leader but also a sought-after security expert. With the aim of making the Bundeswehr fit for the challenges of the future, it will certainly continue to be very popular in the coming years. He has already clearly emphasized his own claim to bring fresh ideas and perspectives into the reforms. There is a lot at stake in the times we live in, and it will be exciting to see what measures and strategies Freuding will take to move the army forward.