| 1st Communications Regiment 1st Communications Battalion 1st Staff & Communications Battalion 1st Signal Battalion | |
|---|---|
| 1. Fernmelderegiment | |
 Regimental Coat of Arms | |
| Active | 1 July 1956 – 31 December 2015 |
| Country |
 West Germany (1956–1990) Germany (1990–2015) |
| Branch |
 West Germany Army (1956–1990) Germany Army (1990–2015) |
| Type | Response Forces |
| Role | Military Communications |
| Size |
Battalion (1956–2003) Regiment (2003–2015) |
| Part of |
 1st Armoured Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Von Düring Barracks, Rotenburg an der Wümme |
The 1st Signal Regiment (German language: 1. Fernmelderegiment) was a military communications unit of the German Army (Heer) which supported the 1st Panzer Division before the initiation of the Army 2011 structure changes. Throughout its history, the regiment formed part of the regular intervention forces and part of the Signal Troops branch of the Bundeswehr. Following the expansion of the regiment from a battalion in 2006, it remained the only signal regiment in the army until it was disbanded on 31 December 2015.
History[]
On 1st July 1956, the 1st Signal Battalion (German language: 1. Fernmeldebattalion) was formed part of the new 1st Grenadier Division (German language: 1. Grenadierdivision) and based at Prince Albrecht Barracks in Bothfeld, Hanover. Soon later, the 1st Grenadier Division became the 1st Armoured Division (German language: 1. Panzerdivision), though the regiment's designation remained.[1]
On 1st July 1994, in accordance with the Army Structure 5 changes after the end of the Cold War and West Germany's merger with the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), the army's divisions and strength were reduced. The battalion was subsequently merged with the 11th Signal Battalion based in Oldenburg and 120th Signal Regiment in Rotenburg an der Wümme to become the new 1st Staff & Communications Battalion. The battalion was then subordinated for administration to the 20th Command Support Regiment also based in Hanover. The battalion was also then moved to Von Düring Barracks in Rotenburg an der Wümme.[1][2]
On 1 July 2003, as part of the 'Army of the Future' reform, the battalion was redesignated as the 1st Communications Battalion. however, on 1 July 2006, under the 'New Army/Army 2010' reform, the battalion was expanded, becoming the 1st Communications Regiment was now became directly subordinated to the 1st Panzer Division. The regiment saw deployments several times, first in 1996 as part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then in 1999 as part of Kosovo Force, and later during the International Security Assistance Force, and also supported the area of Lüchow-Dannenberg District during heavy flooding in June 2013.[1][2]
In 2011, the Realignment of the Bundeswehr and its 'Army 2011' program saw the German Army completely reorganised with many of its support regiments disbanding. As a result, the regiment was disbanded on 31 December 2015 and subsequently reformed as the 91st Infantry Battalion (German language: 91. Jägerbattalion), which had been formed on 1 July 2015 and designated as the successor to the former signal regiment. The 91st Jägers are today equipped with GTK Boxer armoured personnel carriers and forms part of the 9th Armoured Demonstration Brigade based in Münster; though the battalion remains at the former signal regiment's barracks in Rotenburg.[1][2]
Structure[]
The regiment's structure before it disbandment was as follows:[1][3]
- Staff and Support Company
- 2nd and 3rd Companies – Command Post companies
- 4th–7th Companies – Mixed signals companies
- 8th Company – Training company
Role[]
As part of the Bundeswehr 's communications troop, the regiment was responsible for setting up and operating the communications links for up to two base command posts of the division and an advanced command post and connecting them to each other and to the subordinate units . Various command and control means for voice and data transmission (fixed telecommunications networks, army telecommunications system AUTOKO 90 / BIGSTAF , HF radio, VHF radio) were used. In times of peace, the regiment was in charge of planning and carrying out communications exercises in the divisional network, thus providing uniform communications training for the brigades and divisional troops safe. The regiment carried out the basic training for the 1st Signal Regiment, the staff company of the 1st Armored Division and also for the divisional troops of the 1st Armored Division.[1][2]
Coat of Arms[]
The battalion's coat of arms are as follows:[1]
The coat of arms show a yellow and white split shield framed with a silver cord, in the middle of which the Lower Saxon white horse is depicted imposed upon a red background (that of the Electorate of Hanover). The red shield is digaonally crossed by two lightning bolts in the background, the symbol of the Signal Troops. The unit badge is identical to that of the 1st Panzer Division, the formation which the regiment is part of, less the two lightning bolts.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "1st Signal Regiment – 1st Panzer Division units". https://web.archive.org/web/20130820234701/http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/poc/1div?uri=ci%3Abw.heer_1div.dienststellen.fmrgt.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Zollondz, Catherine (3 August 2015). "Time to say goodbye". German Army News. http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/!ut/p/c4/NYzBCsIwEET_aDct9FBvlip48SCC1tuahmZrmpRlqxc_3uTgDAwDbxh8YHakN0-knCIFvONgeff8gHdOgF66uRAgkvXC1quLMJOX2lQNzFvgUvBWXkYHNkWnJfNMOeckpElgTaKhkE0kE-ARB1P1nWnMX9W3HQ7H87U2bX_qLrguy_4H8n4Q6g!!/.
- ↑ "1st Signal Regiment". 9 April 2017. http://www.rotenburg-wuemme.de/city_info/webaccessibility/index.cfm?waid=511&item_id=859332&oldrecord=70913&oldmodul=5&olddesign=0&fsize=1&contrast=0.