Kommando Spezialkräfte

Kommando Spezialkräfte
KSK unit badge
Active	20 September 1996 (Created) 1997 (Activated)–present
Country	Germany
Branch	German Army
Type	Special forces
Role	Airborne operations Counter-Insurgency Counter-terrorism Covert Ops Direct Action Hostage Rescue High Value Targets/Manhunting Intelligence Operations Mobility Operations Unconventional Warfare
Size	~1,100 active personnel
Part of	Rapid Forces Division
Garrison/HQ	Calw, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Motto(s)	Facit Omnia Voluntas (lat. The will is decisive)[1]
Engagements	Yugoslav Wars  • NATO intervention in Bosnia  • Kosovo War Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan  • Battle of Tora Bora  • TF K-Bar  • Operation Anaconda  • Northern Afghanistan
Decorations	United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation for KSK-members of Task Force K-Bar
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General (Brigadegeneral) Alexander Sollfrank, since 2017
Notable commanders	Brigadier General (Brigadegeneral) Hans-Christoph Ammon

Heliborne Training

KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte (Special Forces Command, KSK) is an elite special forces military unit composed of special operations soldiers selected from the ranks of Germany's Bundeswehr and organized under the Rapid Forces Division. KSK has received many decorations and awards from NATO, the United States and its affiliates and KSK operatives are frequently requested for joint anti-terror operations, notably in the Balkans and Middle East.

History

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 the 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^[2] were the only military units comparable to anything that other nations may have seen as dedicated special forces units. Following the KSK’s activation on April 1, 1997, all but one of the Fernspähkompanie have been either disbanded or merged into the newly constituted unit.

Like those of 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 that a preference for working directly for the Americans as part of OEF-A as they had done as part of Task Force K-Bar.^[3]

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 May 4th, 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. Daniel Wirth was honored by his sister Kathrin Wirth-Torrente in a book titled "Brothers in Bravery". It not only tells her brother's story, but also reflects on 40 additional military members who lost their lives while fighting The Global War on Terror in the Greater Middle East. The book was published by the Travis Manion Foundation in September of 2017.

Commanders

There have been eight commanders in the 20-year period since KSK was formed in 1996. They are as follows:^[4]

• 1996–1998: Brigadier General Fred Schulz
• 1998–2000: Brigadier General Hans-Heinrich Dieter
• 2000–2003: Brigadier General Reinhard Günzel
• 2003–2005: Brigadier General Carl-Hubertus von Butler
• 2005–2007: Brigadier General Rainer Hartbrod
• 2007–2010: Brigadier General Hans-Christoph Ammon
• 2010–2013: Brigadier General Heinz Josef Feldmann
• 2013–2017: Brigadier General Dag Knut Baehr*
• 2017–present: Brigadier General Alexander Sollfrank

*Brigadier general Dag Baehr has previously served twice as a field officer in the KSK: First, under the command of Brigadier general Schulz, when it was founded from 1996 until 1999 and then again between 2004 until 2007 under the command of Brigadegeneral Hartbrod.^[5]

Structure

KSK land based training operations

KSK air insertion training

The KSK is a regular army unit at brigade level and (apart from the HQ and the Development Group) divided into two battalion-sized departments: Operational Forces and Support Forces.

Selection and training

Sniper training

Initially, only officers and non-commissioned officers of the Bundeswehr could apply for service with the KSK and the subsequent evaluation period. As a prerequisite for entry, the Bundeswehr Commando Course (Einzelkämpferlehrgang) must have been completed by the applicant. Since 2005, however, applications have also been opened to civilians and enlisted personnel who must complete an 18-month Long Range Surveillance training cycle before the intense KSK selection process begins.

The selection process for the combat positions is divided into two phases: a three-week-long physical and psychological training regimen (normally having a 40% pass rate), and later a three-month-long physical endurance phase (normally with a 8–10% pass rate). During latter phase, the KSK use the Black Forest as their proving grounds for prospective operators. In this time, candidates must undergo a grueling 90-hour cross-country run, followed by a three-week international Combat Survival Course at the German-led multinational Special Operations Training Center (formerly the International Long Range Reconnaissance School) in Pfullendorf.

Upon successful completion of the selection process, candidates may be allowed to start their 2–3-year training cycle with the KSK. This training includes roughly twenty courses at over seventeen schools worldwide: in Norway for Arctic terrain, Austria for mountainous terrain; El Paso, Texas, or Israel for desert and/or bush training; San Diego for amphibious operations; and Belize for jungle experience.

According to press releases from May 2008, the Bundeswehr aims to advance the attractiveness of service in the KSK to women.^[6] This is partially because the KSK was previously unable to reach its targeted number of troops.^[7] The KSK was no longer restricted to male troops after the Bundeswehr opened all units to women in 2001. As of 2018 in KSK, women occupied auxiliary positions.^[8]

Equipment

Weapons

Name	Type	Origin	Notes
Heckler & Koch USP	Semi-automatic Pistol
Heckler & Koch SFP9-SF M	Semi-automatic Pistol
Heckler & Koch MP5K / MP5SD	SMG		May be fitted with various different optics.
Heckler & Koch MP7 A2	PDW		May be fitted with the Rheinmetall LLM Vario-Ray and various different optics.
Heckler & Koch G36K	Assault-rifle		May be fitted with the AG36 grenade launcher, the Rheinmetall LLM Vario-Ray and various different optics.
Heckler & Koch HK416 A7 (as G95)	Assault-rifle		May be fitted with the HK GLM grenade launcher, the Rheinmetall LLM Vario-Ray and various different optics.
Heckler & Koch HK417 A2 (as G27)	Battle-rifle		May be fitted with the HK GLM grenade launcher, the Rheinmetall LLM Vario-Ray and various different optics.
Heckler & Koch G28	DMR
Haenel RS9[9] (as G29)	Sniper-rifle
Barrett M107A1 (as G82)	Sniper-rifle
Heckler & Koch MG4K	LMG
Heckler & Koch MG5 A2	GPMG
Remington 870 Express / MCS	Shotgun
Heckler & Koch GLM	Grenade-launcher
Milkor AV-140 MSGL	Revolver Grenade-launcher
Heckler & Koch GMG	AGL
DND RGW 60/90	MANPAT
Stinger FIM-92J	MANPADS
Rafael Spike-MR	ATGM
Pohl Force knife	Combat-knife		Various models.

Vehicles

Name	Type	Origin	Notes
Eurocopter EC645 T2 LUH	Armored Multi-mission helicopter
Rheinmetall Serval	Light-armored S.O.-vehicle
ACS ENOK LAPV 6.1	Armored Patrol-vehicle
MOWAG Eagle V	Armored Patrol-vehicle
BAE BvS10 MkIIB	All-terrain Armored-vehicle
Yamaha Kodiak 450 EPS	ATV
Lynx 69 Ranger	Heavy-duty snowmobile
KTM 640 LS-E Military	Multi-purpose Enduro
Wayland MkI 450 Commando	Folding-kayak

Special equipment

Name	Type	Origin	Notes
Airborne-Systems MMS	Tactical-parachute		HAHO/HALO capable.
Airborne-Systems SOLR Mask	HAHO/HALO Oxygen-mask
Airborne-Systems SOLR 4500	HAHO/HALO Oxygen-tank

Insignia

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kommando Spezialkräfte.

• KSK offalkräfte (KSK) at Sondereinheiten.de (in German)

Coordinates: 48°42′30″N 8°46′19″E / 48.70833°N 8.77194°E / 48.70833; 8.77194