One of the two main tasks of the Guard Battalion at the Federal Ministry of Defense is the high-profile execution of international protocol, such as the reception of state guests, Grand Tattoo ceremonies, and guards of honor. In contrast, there is the infantry protection mission: defending government buildings in times of tension and defense, and the transport of those under protection.
The soldiers of the Guard Battalion train in the first part of this year’s exercise series Bollwerk Bärlin 2026, running from May 11 to June 10. In urban and house-to-house combat, the infantry training level of the soldiers is tested while the real mission (protocol and protection) continues.
Guard Battalion also tests transport by water and in the air
The capital city presents the soldiers with particular challenges due to its demanding infrastructure: urban traffic networks, dense development, and restricted lines of sight complicate the transport of protectees by land. Therefore, the Guard Battalion is testing not only the securing of infrastructure and the use of the public road network with protected vehicles, but also the transport of persons on waterways and through the air using fast boats and helicopters.
The commander of the Guard Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Maik Teichgräber, sums up the challenges of the exercise: “The Bollwerk Bärlin 2026 exercise provides my soldiers with an excellent opportunity to train as realistically as possible in their area of operation Berlin. At the same time, the simultaneous fulfillment of the protocol mission requires the highest level of flexibility from them. By employing a variety of transport means and routes, we prepare ourselves for as many contingencies as possible.”
As the exercise intensifies, complex live-fire engagements in the field will also be conducted on the Jägerbrück training range, Teichgräber said. “All of this is intended to enable us to fulfill our protection mission in our area of operation Berlin as effectively as possible in a state of tension or defense.” During the exercise period, there may be local traffic obstructions, detours, and increased presence of soldiers with Bundeswehr deployment vehicles on site.
