Department 1 (Operational Procurement)

Department 2 (Technical Surveillance)

Department 2A of the BND, quartered in the high security building No 109 in Pullach, is responsible for counternarcotics and countering money-laundering activities. It was also involved in the Operation Hades Plutonium incident.

Department 3 (Interpretation )

Department 3 includes 750 officials for assessing information.

Department 4 (Administration)

Department Four activities include the maintenance of the BND its Central File for Persons (PEZD). The centrepiece of the intelligence service and one of the most closely protected files in Germany, the PEZD contains all findings on persons with contacts with the intelligence services.

Department 5 (Security and Defence)

Department 6 (Central Tasks)

The BND is supervised by the Parliamentary Control Commission (PKK) for the intelligence services.

The Law on Combating Crime, which was adopted in 1994, authorizes the BND to tap telecommunications lines only for foreign intelligence collection. However the Law authorizes the BND to pass to prosecutors information obtained from tapping international phone calls in connection with certain serious crimes such as arms dealing, drug trafficking, or terrorism. The originally planned provision that the intelligence service could be involved in investigations at the request of the prosecution authorities was not incorporated in the final legislation. The BND has supported legislation banning encoding or encrypting in telecommunications, arguing that such a ban is indispensable for successful intelligence collection. Nearly the entire world is of interest to the BND, which has operatives in more than 100 countries concerned with obtaining information. More often than not, they are disguised as embassy staffers and have their own address under the cover of "second political officer." Approximately 1,000 "cruising monitors" comb the airwaves around the clock and transcribe telephone and radio conversations and telex and fax traffic. Important priorities, beyond current crisis reporting, include weapons and the drugs trade, plutonium smuggling, armament or terrorist organizations and threats to international traffic routes. The BND regularly exchanges information with other security agencies, including the Federal Criminal Police Office, Customs and Federal Border Protection. In addition to daily current reporting to Bonn, in crisis situations the BND provides additional overview and situation assessment derived from its own sources or from the services of other countries. The BND has been involved in a coordinated European effort to stop arms deals and smuggling. The BND has deployed agents among Islamic activists in various German cities, and has intensified its surveillance of activities in Central Europe.

In August 1994 three small-time crooks smuggled some 363 grams of plutonium from Moscow to Munich on a Lufthansa aircraft. After they were apprehended at the Munich Airport by officers of the Bavarian Land Office of Criminal Investigations, it was revealed that two BND agents, Karsten Uwe Schnell (cover name: "Roberto") and Rafael Ferreras Fernandez ("Rafa"), encouraged the plutonium deal, code named Operation Hades, in a meeting with the perpetrators in Madrid. There has been an enormous amount of controversy, and a fair amount of disinformation, surrounding the Munich incident. The BND has an agreement with the Russian FSK covering cooperation in area of contending with nuclear contraband. Personnel costs account for almost 70 percent of the BND budget, with investment accounting for another 10 percent. The Federal Intelligence Service [BND] plans to reduce its staff from 6,300 employees to 4,500. The staff level peaked at around 7,6000 during the Cold War, with 6,000 located at the central headquarters and 1,500 at branches and overseas locations. Half the staff consists of civilians working under contract, one-third are permanent civil servants, and one out of every 10 is a military serviceman. Between the fall of the Berlin Wall and 1997 a total of nearly 750 jobs were eliminated. A further reduction of 15 percent is planned until after the year 2000. Originally, the reduction was supposed to be even faster, but this would have increased expenses due to payments for early retirement. BND civil servants and military staff leave the BND when they reach retirement age, and their posts are not filled. Although approximately 1,100 positions are to be eliminated, no more than 180 people are scheduled to retire by the year 2000. The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is headquartered in Munich-Pullach, where between 80 to 90 percent of BND employees are stationed. Financially, it is not possible to move the service to Berlin by the year 2000, though plans are underway for the the BND to establish a "virtual" presence in Berlin by 1999, when the Federal Government moves there.

They arrived at 17:30 hours on 17, October 1977. Two SAS officers were along to "observe" the takedown; They brought the new "flash-bang" stun grenades with them. Members of GSG-9 and the two SAS troopers begin approaching the aircraft from the rear. At 23:50, with the help of the local Somali military, diversions were set up to distract the terrorists. They were told their demands had been met. Then a huge bonfire set by the Somali special forces began to burn 100 yards in front of the plane. At 00:05 (12:05 for those of you who can't read military time) the assault began. Climbing up the rubber tipped ladders, 20 GSG-9 operators forced their way into the aircraft and tossed the flash-bang grenades towards the cockpit. One female terrorist was encountered immediately and killed. Another raced to the rear of the aircraft and barricaded herself in a toilet. She was critically wounded by a burst from an MP-5, but survived. Two minutes after the assault began, the fuselage of the aircraft is secure and the evacuation of passengers begins as the battle rages for the cockpit. The leader of the terrorists tosses two fragmentation grenades at the GSG-9 operators; these detonate under a row of seats and do little harm. The leader is then dispatched by a burst of 9mm from a MP-5. The fourth and final terrorist is killed when the leader and father of GSG-9, Ulrich Wegener, places several .38 rounds into his head. Eleven minutes after the assault begins, the aircraft is secure, with no losses.

In 1995, Germany to the initial steps to form a new military special operations unit known as Kommando Spezialkraefte, or KSK for short. With the unification of the two formerly separate Germany's, and their increased influence and business interests outside of Germany's borders, a new force was needed. That force would have to capable of rapidly responding to incidents involving German citizens abroad, or protecting Germany's national interests worldwide. The unit would also be capable of operating under conditions that other German military forces were not accustomed to, or normally trained to operate in, such as jungle and desert climates. KSK was formed to fill that need. According to several reports, the impetus for forming the force was the German experience during the 1994 Rwandan civil war. During the conflict, Belgian and French paratroopers were used to rescue 11 German nationals because no suitably trained German force was available. KSK's commander, a Brigadier, has emphasized the need for mature, reliable soldiers to man the unit. Despite the unit's hostage-rescue capabilities, reports stress that the KSK is a military unit with military missions -- not another GSG-9 counterterrorist force. KSK does, however, maintain a Hostage Rescue Team capable of resolving a variety of associated tasks. While GSG-9 and the state police municipal SEK's are all outstanding units, GSG-9 is a Federal Border Guards unit that by law is restricted from conducting foreign military operations, and the SEK's only authorized to operate within their respective jurisdictions.

KSK will operate under the control of the German Crisis Section, and will conduct missions similar to those undertaken by US Special Forces, or British SAS units. They may include: Defence of Germany or NATO territory; Deterrence and de-escalation of crisis situations; Peace keeping/peace support missions; Strategic recon; Deep penetration raids; Hostage rescue/CT operations.

Although unit missions include operating against high value targets such as lines of communication, enemy headquarters and long range recon, particular emphasis is being placed on ensuring the safety of German citizens in war or conflict zones, evacuating noncombatants, and rescuing hostages or downed pilots. The bulk of the unit was formed on April, 1st 1996 when the personnel of the three airborne brigade's commando companies, along with troops assigned to two of the Army's Long Range Scout Companies (the 3rd unit was disbanded) were combined under one command forming the KSK. By the fall of 1996, approximately 20 soldiers had been successfully trained, and the unit was operational by April 1997. The first companies had a limited operational capacity in early 1999, with a small detachment being deployed to Kosovo to provide close protection details for high ranking German officials. 

When the unit is declared fully operational, it will consist of 1,000 fully trained operators, and will be organized as follows: HQ & Signal Company- HQ Platoon, 3 Signal Platoons, Long Range Recon Signal Platoon (all trained in SATCOM, HF, LOS communication). Commando/ Long-Range Recon Company- A HQ element, A Long Range Recon Commando Platoon, A Long Range Recon Platoon. Each Commando Company consists of the following: HQ Platoon, Four Commando Platoons - each specializing in a different area; 1st - Land Infiltration; 2nd - Air Infiltration (HALO capable); 3rd - Amphibious Operations; 4th - Mountainous and Arctic climate opera. Each platoon consisting of four teams of four men each. Each of the four men specializes in one of the following areas: communications, explosives, medical, or operations and intelligence, with one of the men acting as team leader. One of the four platoons is trained in conducting hostage rescue/ CT operations. At least some operators are trained in high-speed driving as well. Support Company- a logistics Platoon, Parachute Equipment Platoon, Medical Platoon, Maintenance/repair Platoon, Training Platoon.

Training for KSK's initial batch of recruits is supposed to last for a period of approximately three years, with all the units operational elements being both military free-fall (HALO/HAHO) and SCUBA trained. The selection process and basic training for new recruits lasts about three months and is a modified version of what the SAS, and US Army Special Forces use (the US, UK, and France were all involved in the initial planning and unit set up).

The following is requirements must be met before a candidate can enter into the KSK's training course: Officers have to be under 30years of age, and NCOs under 32; Candidates can come from any part of the Army; Candidates must be airborne qualified; Candidates must volunteer for at least 6 years of service with the KSK.

Einzelkaempferlehrgang 1- A training course that all combat arms Officers and most senior NCO's (Staff Sergeants and above) must successfully complete. Selection Process at Calw (KSK's Blackwood training centre). 1 Day Psychological test (computer assisted testing). 1 Week of selection. 2 Days of physical fitness testing (1 Minute maximum situps, 1 minute max. pushups, 3 10m sprint, stand jumping, 12 minute run). 500m swimming under 15 min. Standard German Assault course in max 1:40 min. 7 Km Field run with 20kg backpack in 52:00 min. Additional psychological tests (3 days). Upon successfully completing the basic screening and selection course the new recruit goes on to attend more specialized training courses.

Basic Commando Training
1 week of SERE training under extreme conditions, including a 100 km march in 4 days with heavy load and unexpected incidents, such as abseiling, river crossings, orientiering, and cadre led ambushes. Psychological screening 1 hour.

Basic Commando training part II
A 3 week combat survival course at the International Long Range Recon Patrol School at Pfullendorf. All specialist training is to be completed before a new recruit is assigned to an operational team. At least some members also receive training in high speed/performance driving techniques.