The Divided Orientation of the German Army -- Or: Why the Bundeswehr Has Not Done Well With "Internal Leadership' Since 1950

"Innere Fuhrung" is the key word, to differentiate the Bundeswehr from its historic predecessors. The concept to use the constitution's values & norms in the military today stands for granted in politics & society. But about that in all phases of Bundeswehr there had been heavy disputes. The position of the so called reformers could make its way only hard against that of the traditionalists. In the document of Himmerod from 1950 the foundation's compromise can already be discovered. This ambivalence of military politics against "Innere Fuhrung" appears again & again as a problem in Bundeswehr's 50 years of history. The following text examines the secret consultations in autumn 1950. Adapted from the source document.