Wehrbeauftragter des Bundestages
Summary
The Wehrbeauftragter des Bundestages (Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces) is constitutionally established under Art. 45b of the Grundgesetz as an auxiliary body of the Bundestag for the protection of basic rights and as a safeguard for parliamentary oversight of the Bundeswehr. The Commissioner is elected by the Bundestag for a 5-year term and may be removed before the end of that term only for cause by a two-thirds majority of the Bundestag. The office receives and investigates complaints from soldiers and servicemembers, and may conduct visits to military units without prior notice. Under the WBeauftrG the Commissioner may summon and examine witnesses and experts, and has full access to military files and records. Annual reports are submitted to the Bundestag and made public. The scope is strictly limited to military matters; Germany has no equivalent general ombudsman office at federal level.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Legislative appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Gesetz ueber den Wehrbeauftragten des Bundestages (WBeauftrG)
- Citation
- WBeauftrG in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung vom 16. Juni 1982 (BGBl. I S. 677); Art. 45b GG
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
Armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr) only; investigates complaints from soldiers and monitors observance of fundamental rights and parliamentary oversight of the military. Germany has no general national ombudsman.