The Homeland Defense Division, together with Vigilant Roland I, is for the first time testing the functionality of Turntable Germany. From May 4 to May 22, the exercise will take place at several locations in Bavaria, Hesse, and Lower Saxony. On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, homeland defenders, for example, secure the rail unloading of tracked vehicles of Panzergrenadier Brigade 37 at the Bergen Training Area (Lower Saxony).
Ensuring the deployment of the Bundeswehr and its NATO allies within the framework of Turntable Germany is a core task of the Homeland Defense Division, established last year. To that end, it safeguards in Germany in times of tension and defense crucial infrastructure such as ports, airports, bridges, railway lines, energy facilities, and much more.
More than 600 Homeland Defenders at Vigilant Roland
At Vigilant Roland I, more than 600 female and male soldiers of the Homeland Defense Division are involved. About 250 come from Homeland Defense Regiment 3 (Nienburg), about 200 from Homeland Defense Regiment 5 (Ohrdruf), about 80 from Homeland Defense Regiment 4 (Alt Duvenstedt), about 50 from Homeland Defense Regiment 1 (Roth), and about 40 from the Headquarters of the Homeland Defense Division (Berlin). The majority of the soldiers are reserve personnel.
The Homeland Defense Division was established on March 14, 2025 as the Army’s fourth division. It commands the six homeland defense regiments currently in existence, including Homeland Defense Regiment 2 (Münster) and 6 (Möckern). In total, the division comprises around 6,000 positions.
