Ministry of National Defence and Sport (Austria)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Defence and Sports (Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung und Sport, sometimes shortened to BMLVS or Verteidigungsministerium) is the government ministry of Austria for all matters relating to the military affairs (especially the Austrian Armed Forces) or to sport. In the Faymann cabinet
, its current minister is Norbert Darabos
(SPO
).
and is 'Ressortchef' of the 'Sektion Sport'. For certain acts, such as the use of more than 5,000 men of the militia or reserve, the Federal Minister for Defence's authorization is bound by this, since in these cases the constitutional command of the army takes precedence.
for the whole of Austro-Hungary and a Ministry of Defence
solely for the Austrian half of the empire. The defence ministry took on various names during the First Austrian Republic
of 1918 to 1938, but was abolished during Austria's anschluss
into Nazi Germany
from 1938 to 1945. During the Allied occupation of Austria from 1945 to 1956, defence was in the remit of the "Office for National Defence"
From 1945 to 1956, during the period of the occupation forces fremdkontrollierten by Republic of Austria were the agendas of national defense for the "Office for National Defence" (Amtes für Landesverteidigung), a section in the Federal Chancellery
. This became a new ministry in 1956.
Faymann cabinet
The government of Werner Faymann was sworn in on December 2, 2008. Following the resignation of Vice Chancellor and ÖVP party chairman Josef Pröll from all political functions, a cabinet reshuffle took place, the new government members sworn in by the President of Austria on 21 April 2011.-...
, its current minister is Norbert Darabos
Norbert Darabos
Norbert Darabos is an Austrian politician. Since 11 January 2007, he is Minister of National Defence first in the Gusenbauer cabinet, then in the Faymann cabinet. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria . Darabos is part of the ethnic minority of the Burgenland Croats...
(SPO
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
).
Authority
The minister is head of all the ministry's subordinate authorities and has command and control of the Austrian Armed Forces in all cases it is not directly subject to the President of AustriaPresident of Austria
The President of Austria is the federal head of state of Austria. Though theoretically entrusted with great power by the constitution, in practice the President acts, for the most part, merely as a ceremonial figurehead...
and is 'Ressortchef' of the 'Sektion Sport'. For certain acts, such as the use of more than 5,000 men of the militia or reserve, the Federal Minister for Defence's authorization is bound by this, since in these cases the constitutional command of the army takes precedence.
Responsibilities
Specifically, the Ministry is responsible for matters regarding:- the armed forces' constitutionally-defined duties
- the armed forces' operational and tactical leadership
- military aviation
- the provision of arms, equipment, materiel and personnel to the armed forces
- weapons, ammunition and munitions
- military technology, including weapons testing and military-technical research
- military restricted areas
- care of the armed forces' health, including military hospitals and supply of medicines
- military attachés
- the establishment, maintenance and management of all military buildings, facilities and properties owned by the state, the ministry building, the military administration or the army, including the Military History Museum, known as the Heeresgeschichtlichen Museum
- shipping, road transport, telecommunications and mapping in the military field
- the running of the Military History Museum, known as the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum (Militärhistorisches Institut).
- the armed forces' finances
- the army forest at Allentsteig
- anagement of Austria's shares in the SIVBEG (Strategische Immobilien Verwertungs-, Beratungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft) as long as the federal government is a shareholder, and the regulation of that company.
- the European Defence AgencyEuropean Defence AgencyThe European Defence Agency is an agency of the European Union based in Brussels. It is a Common Foreign and Security Policy body set up on 12 July 2004, reporting to the Council of the European Union. All EU member states, except Denmark which has an opt-out of the CFSP, take part in the agency...
- sport affairs
Office holders
- Minister: Norbert DarabosNorbert DarabosNorbert Darabos is an Austrian politician. Since 11 January 2007, he is Minister of National Defence first in the Gusenbauer cabinet, then in the Faymann cabinet. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria . Darabos is part of the ethnic minority of the Burgenland Croats...
- Head of the Minister's Cabinet: Stefan Kammerhofer
- Chief of the General Staff: General Edmund Entacher
- Deputy Chief of Staff: Generalleutnant Othmar Commenda
- Head of Section I (Zentralsektion or Central Section): Sektionschef Rainer Holenia
- Head of Section II (Planung or Planning): Generalleutnant Dietmar Franzisci
- Head of Section III (Bereitstellung or Supply): Generalleutnant Freyo Apfalter
- Head of Section IV (Einsatz or Mission): Generalleutnant Christian Segur-Cabanac
- Head of Section V (Sport): post vacant
Subordinate departments
Subordinate to the ministry are the:- Streitkräfteführungskommando (Supreme Command): Generalleutnant Günter Höfler
- Kommando Einsatzunterstützung (Operations Support Command): Generalmajor Bernhard Bair
- Kommando Führungsunterstützung (Command Support Command): BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Hermann Loidolt - Ämter (Offices) :
- Armed forces personnel office: Hofrat Thomas Mais
- Armed forces' building and surveying office : Brigadier Heinz Kurka
- Office for armaments and procurement: Brigadier Christian Tauschitz
- Office for armaments and military technology: Brigadier Erich Apoloner
- HeeresnachrichtenamtHeeresnachrichtenamtHeeresnachrichtenamt is an intelligence agency of the Austrian Armed Forces. Heeresnachrichtenamt researches information on military operations and projects abroad and conducts data analysis of gathered intelligence. The service maintains branch offices in Linz, Graz and Klagenfurt....
(Intelligence Office): Generalmajor Edwin Potocnik - Abwehramt (Army Office): Generalmajor Anton Oschep
- Academies:
- Landesverteidigungsakademie (National Defence Academy): General Raimund Schittenhelm
- Theresianische Militärakademie (Military Academy): Generalmajor Norbert Sinn
- Heeresunteroffiziersakademie (Army Non-Commissioned Officers' Academy): Brigadier Heinz Hufler
- Weapons training and technical schools:
- Heerestruppenschule (Army Soldiers School): Brigadier August Reiter
- Flieger- und Fliegerabwehrschule (Flight and Air Defence School): Brigadier Günther Schiefert
- ABC-Abwehrschule (Defence School): Oberst Michael Schuster
- Heereslogistikschule (Army Logistics School): Brigadier Dieter Jocham
- Führungsunterstützungsschule (Leadership Support School): Brigadier Rainer Kubiska
- Militärmedizinisches Zentrum (Military Medical Centre): Brigadier Eugen Gallent
Historical development
The Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Sport have been linked since 2009.Defence Ministry
Previous to 1918, there was a Ministry of WarMinister of War (Austria-Hungary)
The Imperial and Royal Minister of War , until the year 1911 Minister of War of the Empire , was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the Dual Monarchy from its creation in 1867 until the empire's collapse in 1918, Imperial Austria and Royal Hungary...
for the whole of Austro-Hungary and a Ministry of Defence
Austrian Minister of Defence (Austria-Hungary)
The Austrian Minister of Defence was head of the ' or '. It was set up in 1868 with responsibility for the armed forces and militia in the Cisleithanian half of the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary, effectively what is now Austria...
solely for the Austrian half of the empire. The defence ministry took on various names during the First Austrian Republic
First Austrian Republic
The Republic of Austria encompasses the period of Austrian history following the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye of September 1919, the settlement after the end of World War I which put an end to the Republic of German Austria, continuing up to World War II...
of 1918 to 1938, but was abolished during Austria's anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
into Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
from 1938 to 1945. During the Allied occupation of Austria from 1945 to 1956, defence was in the remit of the "Office for National Defence"
From 1945 to 1956, during the period of the occupation forces fremdkontrollierten by Republic of Austria were the agendas of national defense for the "Office for National Defence" (Amtes für Landesverteidigung), a section in the Federal Chancellery
Federal Chancellery of Austria
In the Austrian Federal Government, the Federal Chancellery is an agency serving the executive office of the Chancellor of Austria. Its primary function is to align the government's politics and information activities, it also represents the executive on federal level in matters concerning the...
. This became a new ministry in 1956.