For an audience of around 400 guests, Lieutenant General André Bodemann, deputy commander of the Bundeswehr’s Operational Leadership Command and commander of Territorial Tasks, on September 22, 2026, during a military assembly before Wiesbaden’s Biebrich Palace, transferred the leadership of the Hessian National Command from Brigadier General Holger Radmann to Brigadier General Markus Reinhardt. The ceremonial event was attended not only by Prime Minister Boris Rhein and his deputy, State Minister Kaweh Mansoori, but also by numerous cabinet members, representatives, district administrators, representatives of the blue-light community, as well as the U.S. Army.
Brigadier General Radmann’s tenure at the Hessian National Command was defined by the turning point in security policy and the accompanying challenges. A core focus of his work was to prepare Hesse for the requirements of the German Operations Plan and for potential crises, and to regard defense as a task for society as a whole and for the state as a whole. Another milestone of his time as commander in Wiesbaden was advancing the relationships between the Bundeswehr and industry and the established partnerships for homeland security and total defense.
Success Story at the Hessian State Command
According to the State Command, this success story does not exist in any other federal state. By now, more than 550 Hessian companies, municipalities, and other institutions have committed themselves to civil-military cooperation with the Bundeswehr. General Radmann moves as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations/Plans to the Bundeswehr’s Operational Leadership Command. The new commander, Brigadier General Markus Reinhardt, had previously served as Defense Attaché in the Military Attaché Staff of the German Embassy in Paris before his transfer to Wiesbaden. The Air Force general joined the Bundeswehr in 1987 and has completed numerous national and international assignments.
The Hessian State Command plays a vital role as the link between the Bundeswehr, the state government, and civilian authorities. Especially in light of the changed security-political environment, national and alliance defense as well as civil-military cooperation have gained prominence. Hessen occupies a special position as a transit country in Germany due to its central location. In addition, there is the presence of the Bundeswehr as well as numerous U.S. armed forces in Hessen and the region.
