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Wilhelmshaven celebrates: 70 years of the Federal Navy and its significant beginning!
Discover the return of the Navy to Wilhelmshaven in 1956 and its significance for the rearmament of West Germany.
Wilhelmshaven celebrates: 70 years of the Federal Navy and its significant beginning!
January 2, 1956 was an important date in the history of the German Navy. On this day, the first volunteers of the newly founded Federal Navy arrived in Wilhelmshaven. Loud NDR This step marks the beginning of West Germany's rearmament, which was driven forward by pressure from the USA and NATO. The first soldiers, including high school graduates, sailors and young professionals, were dressed in gray uniforms. Navy blue uniforms had not yet been delivered at this time.
The barracks in Wilhelmshaven were improvised and equipped with borrowed bed linen and furniture from garden bars. Interested onlookers and press representatives were present, making the event an internationally recognized moment. Lieutenant Commander Franz-Georg Reschke monitored the volunteers and checked them for possible connections to the Nazi regime. Surprisingly, at this point Germany was still surrounded by reservations about rearmament, especially in France.
Integration into NATO
The Federal Navy became part of NATO's strategy for the defense of western territory. The Federal Archives documented that the integration of the Federal Republic of Germany into NATO was necessary. The national army could only be set up under strict multinational command, which was due to the political and security reality of the time.
The first soldiers of the army and air force also began their service on January 2, 1956 in Andernach and Nörvenich. On January 16, 1956, the volunteers received their certificates of appointment, although a scandal broke out when an officer praised the Nazi grand admirals. Meanwhile, the German Navy was in the process of putting together its fleet using old minesweeping boats from the USA and borrowed destroyers. By the end of the 1950s, over 20,000 soldiers were serving in the navy, which quickly developed into one of the largest Bundeswehr bases in Germany.
About the challenges of the Federal Navy
On December 19, 2025, the frigate “Hamburg” entered the Wilhelmshaven naval base, but the Navy still faces major challenges. How NDR Reportedly, there are both ammunition and personnel shortages, which significantly affects operational readiness.
In the midst of this situation, many remembered the founding of the Basic Law, which was passed 75 years earlier, on May 23, 1949. In the future, this day will be celebrated on May 23, 2024, with a state ceremony between the Reichstag building and the Chancellery. On this occasion, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will give a key speech in which he will describe the Basic Law as the foundation of freedom and democracy. star points out that the 35th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution in the GDR will also be celebrated in 2024.
The development of the Federal Navy and the ongoing challenges in Germany are a reflection of the country's eventful history and the need to address security policy issues in a united Europe in the future.