The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
th 50 anniversary of the
Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
Contact
Office address Bundesministerium der Verteidigung th Fontainengraben 150 / Building No. 620 / 6 floor 53123 Bonn
Postal address Soldatenhilfswerk der Bundeswehr e.V. Postfach 1328 53003 Bonn, Germany
Parcel address Bundesministerium der Verteidigung Fontainengraben 150 / Haus 620 / 6. Stock 53123 Bonn, Germany
Telephone Civilian phone: +49-(0)-228-12 43 91 Military phone: 3400/4391
E-mail [email protected]
Hours Tuesdays to Thursdays from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm
Internet
www.bundeswehr.de Soziales Soldatenhilfswerk
Intr@net aktuell Startseite Gesellschaft Soziales weiterführende Links Soldatenhilfswerk
Banking details Postbank Köln Bank code: 37 01 00 50 Account No.: 13 05 50 03
The editor would like to express his thanks to the staff of the central printing shop of the Federal Office of Defense Administration in Cologne/Bonn for their assistance in the preparation of this brochure on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association.
Imprint
Editor Soldatenhilfswerk der Bundeswehr e.V.
Text and layout LTC (ret.) Ingo Schadt
Design, typesetting, print and binding Federal Office of Defense Administration – Central printing shop Cologne/Bonn
50th anniversary of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
50th anniversary of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
Bundeswehr
Board and Management
Chairman Deputy Chairman Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr Lieutenant General, Medical Corps General Wolfgang Schneiderhan Dr. Kurt Bernhard Nakath
Managing Director Secretary Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Michael Egbers Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Ingo Schadt
Military phone: 3400 / 6342 Military phone: 3400 / 5981 [email protected] [email protected]
Treasurer Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Udo Krämer Military phone: 3400 / 4400 [email protected]
50th anniversary of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
Contents
1. Introductory remarks by the Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, and Chairman of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
2. The origin: Accident in the Iller River on 3 June 1957
3. Streamlined organization: Board and office address
4. Active participation: the Donations Committee
5. Honoring donors at the General Meeting
6. Principles for the provision of comradely support
7. Beneficiaries of comradely support
8. Cases in which support will be granted
9. Filing a request for comradely support
10. Financial basis of comradely support
11. Good ideas and fund-raising efforts: soldiers help soldiers
12. The General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
13. Partners in a supportive network
14. The past 50 years – facts and figures
15. The chairmen of the Service Relief Association
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
Annex
A Excerpt from the charter of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
B Details to be provided by the requesting person
C Documentation of the economic situation
D Reimbursement of travel expenses
F Example of a request for the reimbursement of visiting costs
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1. Introductory remarks by the Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, and Chairman of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
Through an accident or a serious illness every one of us can get into emergency situations which pose a threat to our existence. Those affected are often pushed to their physical, mental and financial limits. This holds especially true for young people that have just started a family and have no financial reserves. In general, helping these people is an act of human solidarity; for soldiers it is a commitment of comradeship.
The decision to found a self-help association for soldiers dates back to the first major tragic accident in the history of the Bundeswehr. On 3 June 1957, 15 soldiers of 19 Paratroop Battalion, which was stationed in the town of Kempten in the Allgäu region, lost their lives when they tried to cross the Iller River. They were the first age- group to be conscripted and, at that time, had only been soldiers for a few weeks. Their comrades spontaneously collected money for the victims’ families.
There were people collecting and donating money and this act of solidarity bred the idea of founding a relief organization. It has ever since The Chairman of the Service provided self-organized aid in cases that are not Relief Association, General Schneiderhan (yet) covered by government programs or Source: Bundeswehr/Modes insurances. This guideline is as up-to-date as it was in 1957 when the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association was founded.
Now that the Bundeswehr is facing new challenges as an Army on Operations, there has been some improvement in welfare benefits offered by the army. Still, unbureaucratic and fast help is absolutely necessary because he who helps quickly helps twice. However, fast help can only be provided by an independent and unbureaucratic organization.
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association. In the past half century it has raised donations worth more than 25 million euros. There were about 34,000 cases, in which soldiers and their families who were affected by no- fault emergencies received financial support, thus giving them concrete help but also hope and optimism when facing hard times.
For five decades our self-help association has reached out to comrades and their families who were affected by emergency situations through no fault of their own. In most cases helping them so they could help themselves also bred new hope. Apart from material support, the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association above all wants to spread the following message: No one is left behind when in need. Every one can count on the comradely support of his or her fellow soldiers.
Half a century of successful charity work done by the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association is proof that the idea the Relief Association is based on is also an integral part of the culture of the Bundeswehr.
It is in the nature of our good cause that the work of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association never ends. And helping costs money! The Service relief Association can help others because you donate money. It does not receive money from the government or raise a membership fee. It only can fully commit itself to its beneficial task if the spirit of comradeship is kept alive.
This is the reason why all of us should continue down the road of social commitment, which remains important in our society. Support the Service Relief Association with your donations, so it can continue to help the servicemen and servicewoman of the Bundeswehr and their families in the name of comradeship. I know well that in this respect I can fully rely on you, the servicemen and servicewomen of the Bundeswehr. Apart from that, I also put my trust in the commitment of many corporations and private citizens who do not just support a good cause by donating money, but also express their solidarity with the German Armed Forces.
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The four interlocked hands in the coat of arms of the Service Relief Association symbolize the solidarity among soldiers and the helping hand reaching out to those in need through no fault of their own.
Wolfgang Schneiderhan
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
2. The origin: Accident in the Iller River on 3 June 1957
th 3 June 2007 marked the 50 anniversary of the accident in the Iller River near Kempten in the Allgäu region. Back then, in 1957, 15 Bundeswehr soldiers of 19 Paratroop Battalion drowned when they tried to cross the torrential river.
Memories of a contemporary
It is perceived as one of the most tragic accidents in the history of the Bundeswehr. “It was horrible and kind of unreal for all those involved,” explains Captain (retired) Peter Nellesen. He, who was born in 1934 and retired in 1989, can clearly remember what happened. Back then he was an NCO at the headquarters of the 19 Paratroop Battalion in Kempten on the Iller. He was employed in a personnel management function.
At that time basic training was being conducted in the battalion. The soldiers were among the first conscripts of the Bundeswehr. Most of them had worked for the Federal Border Guard beforehand and were earmarked for further NCO training.
Shortcut into disaster
On said 3 June training on the shooting range and in the field were on schedule for
the soldiers of the 2nd Company. The training area was situated beyond the river from the Prinz Franz Kaserne. After the end of the training they wanted to return into their billets quickly. Minister of Defense Franz Josef Strauß at the site of the accident in the evening of 3 June 1957 Source: Gebirgssanitätsregiment 42
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“In commemoration of our dead comrades. 2nd Coy of 19 Paratroop Btl We will always remember you!” Source: Gebirgssanitätsregiment
Thus the leader of the fourth Platoon decided to cut short. He gave his subordinates the order to cross the river. According to Captain (retired)
Nellesen, back then some NCOs who had served in WW II were platoon leaders as the fledgling German Armed Forces did not have enough qualified officers.
Chain reaction in the torrential river
The platoon leader, a sergeant, picked up his baggage, shouldered the machine gun and stepped into the water. There had been heavy rainfalls for days and the water level of the Iller River had substantially increased. For some of the soldiers the water was chest deep. When reaching the middle of the river, one of the young men must have lost his foothold. His fellow soldiers
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
tried to help him and hold on to each other, but they slipped and the accident ran its course. Several soldiers were carried off downstream. Some managed to cling to the piers of a bridge that was approximately 300 meters downstream. However, many soldiers were sucked into dangerous whirlpools that had formed behind the piers.
Unforgotten
Around 11 am the Battalion Headquarters received a phone call. On the other end of the line a farmer reported that soldiers had been carried off by the current of the Iller River and that one of them had died. Search and Rescue was initiated immediately and was carried on into the night. Despite all efforts, 15 soldiers drowned. It was not until 16 days later that the last dead body was found.
After this tragic accident long-term initiatives for fast and unbureaucratic help after accidents and catastrophes were introduced in the Bundeswehr. It was also planned to use donations in order to support soldiers and their dependants facing other types of emergencies through no fault of their own.
The tragic death of the young conscripts triggered a flood of spontaneous solidarity among fellow soldiers and the general population after 3 June 1957. The battalion received a substantial amount of donations. The Division Headquarters set up a commission to control the allocation of funds and the distribution among the dependants of the victims.
As allowances and reimbursement for funeral expenses were granted reluctantly, annoyance was expressed. As a result, the then Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, Adolf Heusinger and the then Chief of Staff, Army, Hans Röttger
decided to establish a relief fund. It was intended to grant financial support for soldiers and their dependants who are affected by catastrophes and accidents. This laid the foundation for a self-help organization for all soldiers.
Source: Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt
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On 18 October 1957 the then Minister of Defense Franz Josef Strauß signed the foundation charter of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association in the presence of the Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, Adolf Heusinger and the Chiefs of Staff of the individual Services.
That Franz Josef Strauß was willing to be the first chairman of the association showed how much he importance he attached to the foundation of an independent organization supporting soldiers and their dependants affected by emergency situations through no fault of their own.
However, as a result of the Iller accident many people came to realize that basic things such as financial support for the bereaved were not properly provided for in the fledgling Bundeswehr. Fast and unbureaucratic help for accident victims and their dependants was not yet existent in the support system of the Armed Forces. Without numerous donations from soldiers and the civilian population, it would not have been possible to provide comprehensive support for those affected that fast. The principle of subsidiarity, which is conjured up a lot nowadays, was an inspiration when the Service Relief Association was established.
Although there has been some progress and improvement within the state-run
financial support system, servicemen and servicewomen are still affected by sudden strokes of fate that may prove disastrous for their living conditions.
Along with the conduct of operations in the enlarged spectrum of tasks of the Bundeswehr, the demands on the Armed Forces and the risk for soldiers and their families and domestic partners have increased. The risk of being affected by no-fault emergencies has not decreased. The Service Relief Association has become an essential part of the Bundeswehr for this reason. What makes the work of the Relief Association so special is that it takes a well thought out
approach in combining fast and unbureaucratic help with long-term effectiveness.
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
3. Streamlined organization: Board and office
The founding fathers of the Service Relief Association deliberately decided to make it a registered association. In doing so, they intended to underpin its status as a self- help organization for all soldiers that is independent of the military hierarchy.
Being a registered association, the organization does not receive funds from the federal government in terms of budgetary transactions. As a result, the Service Relief Association has the independence and freedom of action that is necessary. All expenditures for comradely support as well as running costs are covered by the donations fund.
The first chairman, Federal Minister of Defense Franz Josef Strauß, handed over his office to the first Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, General Adolf Heusinger in the summer
of 1958. Ever since it has been a tradition that all Chiefs of Staff, Bundeswehr, also hold this office.
Since 10 July 2002 General Wolfgang Schneiderhan has been the elected chairman of the Service Relief Association.
Schneiderhan, in cooperation with the Management Board and the General Meeting, is responsible for defining the general policy of the organization. In order to do so, he receives regular information updates about the system of comradely support and about very serious accidents.
The second “hat” of the Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, is more than just an honorary office. It stands for on-site support for fellow soldiers and their dependants that are affected by no-fault emergencies.
According to the charter of the Service Relief Association, there is also a Deputy Chairman. Since 31 August 2006 Lieutenant General, Corps, Dr. Kurth-Bernhard Nakath, Surgeon General of the Bundeswehr, has been holding this office.
The Management Board is the Service Relief Association’s working staff, communication centre, office and executive body. The following elected members of the Board belong to it:
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Managing Director: Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Michael Egbers since 2007 Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Ingo Schadt since 2001 Treasurer: Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Udo Krämer since 2006
(For contacts and further details concerning the office see pages 2 and 3.)
For the Service Relief Association geographical and organizational connection with the “hub”, i.e. the staffs of the armed forces, is essential. This makes sure that the service personnel, above all the disciplinary superiors and the company sergeants, the Social Services and those receiving comradely support are provided with the information they require. The flow of information enables a fast and directed approach in helping the needy.
The Chairman of the Service Relief Association, General Schneiderhan, and his Deputy, Lieutenant General, Medical Corps, Dr. Kurt-Bernhard Nakath, at the General Meeting on 27 March 2007 Source: Bundeswehr/Bienert
From the very start did the political and military leadership want the Service Relief Association to be headquartered at the Federal Ministry of Defense. A support directive issued by the Federal Minister of Defense specifies which services are to be provided by the Bundeswehr in terms of organizational and material support.
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General Schneiderhan, the Board and members of the Donations Committee discuss the allocation of financial support. From left to right: General Schneiderhan, Managing Director LTC (ret.) Egbers, Secretary LTC (ret.) Schadt, member of Donations Committee Master Sergeant Deumler Source: Internetredaktion/Lichte
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4. Active participation: the Donations Committee
The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association grants immediate help for service members affected by emergencies through no fault of their own and has at its disposal a relief fund in case of serious accidents and catastrophes. Comradely support and the relief fund are exclusively financed by donations and yield on assets.
The Service Relief Association, a solidarity-based self-help organization, is not a typical member organization, whose members pay fees in return for certain services. Being a member of the Service Relief Association above all involves being on the Donations Committee. The Management Board convenes the Donations Committee about once per month for a meeting.
The Donations Committee was set up in order to guarantee the broad participation of the service personnel in the allocation of funds, in order to make use of the expertise and social competence of all soldiers and in order to achieve transparency of expenditure.
Meeting of the Donations Committee in Berlin in September 2007 Source: Internetredaktion/Lichte
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It is the intention of the Management Board to win over members from regions where there is a high density of service personnel. In doing so, they try to cover the rank spectrum as fully as possible.
Prospective members either apply themselves or are recommended by their disciplinary superiors. After that, they will be appointed by the Management and elected for a minimum of two years at the annual General Meeting. The members are invited to attend two or more meetings of the Donations Committee a year if this does not conflict with their duty. Membership is based on the principles of voluntary and non-profit work.
Members of the Bundeswehr Social Services and wives or mothers of active soldiers can be invited to attend the meetings. When making decisions in the Donations Committee, the aim is that at least one of those taking a vote belongs to the same rank group as the requesting person.
It is not possible to file an appeal against decisions made by the Donations Committee.
“Working in the Donations Committee broadened my mind in terms of work, strengthened my social competence and raised my awareness in finding
possibilities of doing relief work. And, it was also a good time.” This is about what former members think about their work in this committee in retrospect.
Colonel Katz, Deputy School Commandant, welcomes members of the Donations Committee to the workshop at the Bundeswehr Military Police and Headquarters Service School. Source: SHWBw/Schadt
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5. Honoring donors at the General Meeting
Once a year the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association convenes the General Meeting of its members. On this occasion the service personnel are involved in
setting the Association’s long-terms goals deciding on new members entering and old members leaving the organization withdrawing and reelecting members of the Board
Decisions involving changes in the charter of the Association require a majority of three-quarters of the members present. Changing the purpose of the Association requires the affirmative vote of all members present.
General Meeting of the Service Relief Association on 27 March 2007. From left to right: Treasurer LTC (ret.) Krämer, Deputy Chairman Lieutenant General, Medical Corps, Dr. Kurth-Bernhard Nakath, Chairman General Wolfgang Schneiderhahn, Managing Director LTC (ret.) Wilfried Hille (until 27 March 2007), Secretary LTC (ret.) Ingo Schadt, Honorary Chairperson Lieutenant General, Medical Corps, (ret.) Dr. Karl Demmer, Member of Board LTC Wolfgang Schiffer Source: Bundeswehr/Bienert
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
In its annual progress report the Board of the Service Relief Association informs all Bundeswehr organizations and cooperating welfare organizations about important decisions made by the General Meeting as well as about developments in the fields of comradely support and donations. This report is posted on the website of the
Service Relief Association.
Internet: www.bundeswehr.de Soziales Soldatenhilfswerk
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For many years, the Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, has been using the forum of the General Meeting in order to express his gratitude to “big donors”. It is the Moltkesaal at the Bonn headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Defense where this festive event is taking place and it is not just the sheer amount of money donated that counts. Schneiderhan always expresses his appreciation for people being resourceful and innovative in their efforts to help fellow soldiers affected by no-fault emergencies.
People show a lot of personal commitment, resourcefulness and organizing skills when doing such fund-raising projects. These involve garrison blood-donation campaigns, book sales on public days, funds raised from returnable bottles, concerts ranging from classical to rock and pop music, and interesting and
entertaining evening events. The tried-and-tested collecting box, set up at a prominent location and publicized by the company sergeant, continues to be important in raising money for comradely support.
The Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, , expresses his appreciation to “big donors” on the occasion of the the General Meeting. Source: Bundeswehr/Fischer
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6. Principles for the provision of comradely support
In principal, when preparing a request for financial support, one should verify whether the emergency present is a no-fault one. As a rule, the Service Relief Association will not grant support in emergencies that have to do with a person’s conduct of life such as the financial burden of a divorce. Whoever gets into financial problems because of buying a car or otherwise living beyond one’s means cannot count on the solidarity of one’s comrades. The Service Relief Association does not grant loans.
there is a no- fault emergency
cannot be over- state aids come through maxed out own efforts
neediness
A person is in need is when there is a no-fault emergency and when there is conclusive evidence that, from a neutral point of view, the prospective beneficiary does not have the necessary financial resources to cope with the situation. When assessing whether a person is in need, the overall income is of course taken into account.
When allowances and other state aids have been maxed out or are no longer available, soldiers and their dependants can become caught up in a hopeless situation overnight. Emergencies caused by serious illness, accidents, injury
or death are generally no-fault ones. If the persons affected apparently cannot overcome such situations through their own efforts, comradely support can play a decisive role in enabling them to help themselves.
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7. Beneficiaries of comradely support
“We must face the fact that in technologically advanced armed forces accidents might happen that make it necessary to provide comradely support. [...] Human errors, too, cannot be totally ruled out in such a large organization. Therefore, I am convinced that the establishment of the Service Relief Association serves a good cause.”
Against the backdrop of the new risks the Bundeswehr faces in its role as an “Army on Operations”, the above statement made by Lieutenant General Hans Röttger, the first Chief of Staff, Army, at the inaugural meeting in 1957 continues to be valid.
The Service Relief Association increased the number of categories of persons having access to financial support and, in doing so, adapted its charter to changes
in societal conditions and security policy parameters.
According to the charter of the Service Relief Association, the following categories of persons are entitled to comradely support in case of no-fault emergencies: 1. All active soldiers, 2. Dependants of active soldiers, 3. Persons having a long-term relationship with an active soldier (fiancés and fiancées, boyfriends and girlfriends, adopted children and stepchildren), 4. Reservists whose emergency has to do with their military service or their voluntary reservist work and 5. Civilian employees of the Bundeswehr whose emergency resulted from being deployed together with soldiers
When forces on deployment are affected by accidents, terrorist bombings and catastrophes, active duty soldiers, reservists and, in most cases, civilian employees are “in the same boat”.
In this case active solidarity means granting all victims potential access to the financial support system.
Support provided by the Service Relief Association by nature is focused on non- commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. 2006 was the first year in which more non-commissioned officers received comradely support than enlisted
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personnel did. The main reason for this development is that the percentage of conscripts in the Armed Forces has decreased.
Returning from deployment abroad; Source: Bundeswehr
Sergeant Major Prinz, the Company Sergeant and the Company Commander (from left to right) of the Headquarters Company of the Light Infantry Brigade hand over a check symbolizing the large amount of money collected on the occasion of the “big donors” appreciation ceremony on 27 March 2007. Source: Bundeswehr/Fischer
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8. Cases in which support will be granted
Since its foundation the Service Relief Association has reached out to more than 34,000 comrades, dependants, partners and bereaved persons. However, every case is different and has its own story to tell. This is why standardized and inflexible procedures cannot be applied when assessing a request for help.
However different the individual cases may be, there are in principal four occasions requiring comradely support:
Occasions requiring comradely support
Death Birth Special occasions Catastrophes
Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries: Death of husband, wife, basic service acc. to charter, all Accidents child: only basic service & conscripts categories of persons
extended voluntary service during basic military in case of no-fault conscripts/temporary- service after emergencies such as Physical harm resulting from career volunteers/regular acknowledgement of Visits to deployment soldiers* and their paternity hospital
dependants Results of illness, Death of a parent: disability only basic service & High therapy extended voluntary service costs for conscripts/temporary- children career volunteers Other no-
fault * up from pay grade A 13, emergencies decision by the Donations Committee Level of financial support
Depending on: In principle, Varies by case IAW with decision Family income transfer of 700 in accordance of the Number of euros to the with decision of Board/Donations children mother’s Donations Committee/ Rank of account Committee partner deceased organizations, if necessary
Decision-making body
Management Donations Varies by incident Committee
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9. Filing a request for comradely support
The classic motto “he who helps quickly helps twice” (according to Publillius Syrus, 50 B.C.) is also the guiding principle for the work done by the Management Board.
When there is a stroke of fate such as death or when basic service conscripts become parents, the management always tries to grant financial support immediately after receiving the request. A flat decision-making hierarchy, easy-to-fill-out request forms and an uncomplicated system of potential support services are to keep administrative work to a minimum.
On the other hand, careful handling of the entrusted donations requires that there is sufficient control and transparency of decisions. In principle the following applies:
Proper description of the circumstances and the emergency as well as a precise definition of what kind of help is required for what reasons help providing quick, directed help.
If disciplinary superiors and company sergeants, Social Services, the Service Relief Association and the beneficiaries meet up at an early stage, this can enhance research, prevent misunderstandings und accelerate the provision of directed help.
Help for those who need it. Hanna learns to communicate with her environment during dolphin therapy. Source: SHWBw
Proper evaluation of the individual case is only possible if the economic situation of the beneficiary is disclosed. In doing so, it is intended to not just determine the degree of
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“neediness” but also to prevent the use of funds where state aid is already being paid or expected to be granted. This procedure is inspired by the principle of subsidiarity, which the Service Relief Association is committing itself to.
As a result, the service personnel involved and/or Social Services will in some cases be requested to provide a proper documentation of the economic situation of a potential beneficiary of comradely support.
Lieutenant Schrage is happy about visits by his comrades. The Service Relief Association granted generous comradely support in the form of reimbursement of visiting costs for his parents and a high- quality wheelchair. Source: Internetredaktion/Lichte
The request forms concerning
details to be provided by the requesting person (Annex C) documentation of the economic situation (Annex D) and visiting costs (Annex E) can be found in the annual progress report of the Service Relief Association. On its websites they are available for download. In the case of complicated requests for support enclosing the required forms speeds up the whole process.
Annex F uses a fictitious example in order to demonstrate how to initiate comradely support.
However, this example is only for rough guidance and cannot be used as a pattern for filling out a request form in a precise manner.
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10. Financial basis of comradely support
Without voluntary donations effective help in no-fault emergencies would not be possible. The system of comradely support is solely financed by donations. The amount of money donated comes from the following sectors: Annual collection efforts within the Armed Forces
Donations from private persons
Donations from trade and industry, associations and clubs Fines imposed by courts
The diagram shows where the donations came from in 2006. 13 % came from trade and industry, 28% came from private donors and 59% came from within the Armed Forces. Source: Soldatenhilfswerk
During the last few years the transformation of the Bundeswehr entailed the closure of welfare and recreation facilities for officers and non-commissioned officers. The members of these associations showed a great deal of prudence when they stipulated that the liquidation assets be used to facilitate the work of the Service Relief Association. In the years to come these sums of money will gradually decrease.
By tradition, fines imposed by courts form part of the revenues of the Service Relief Association. However, as the number of military units stationed all over Germany has been reduced and due to an increase in support for local and regional welfare organizations at the court locations, there has been a drastic decrease in funds raised through fines.
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11. Good ideas and fund-raising efforts: soldiers help soldiers
The above-mentioned development is countered by a very positive trend. Fund- raising efforts carried out by fellow soldiers, societal groups, trade and industry and last but not least individual members of the Donations Committee increasingly demonstrate commitment to a good cause, organizing skills, resourcefulness and solidarity by those involved.
There is a wide range of fund-raising efforts. The enlisted personnel of a military sub-unit in Bonn organized an evening event followed by a hearty breakfast the next morning. In the end, there was so much money in the collection box that it could e.g. be used to reimburse the travel expenses of the mother of a basic service conscript who had had a serious accident.
Master Sergeant Normen Schubert, member of the Donations Committee of the Service Relief Association, was able to raise 40,000 euros on a bicycle tour. When he arrived in the Bendler Street in Berlin after riding more than 4,500 km, it was not just many fellow soldiers but also the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces that were convinced that the Service Relief Association was serving a good cause.
Master Sergeant Normen Schubert after crossing the finish line in Berlin. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Reinhold Robbe is to the left of him and Vice Admiral, Medical Corps, Dr. Karsten Ocker is to the right of him. There are also sportive fellow-cyclists that had accompanied him during the last stage. Source: SHWBw/Schadt
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Lieutenant Colonel Bernhard Vogel (center, kneeling) at the starting line of the last stage of the marathon from Niebüll to Husum Source: SHWBw / Schadt
The participants of the open contest “geht nich gibt’s nich” (We can do it!)
needed to have a lot of endurance and fitness. Lieutenant Colonel Bernhard Vogel, at present Deputy Commandant of the 1 Surface-to-Air Missile Wing in Schleswig Holstein organized this event during his 2006 summer holidays. When the participants had crossed the finish line in Husum, it was clear that they and the sponsors had collected around 12,000 euros for comradely- support efforts.
Jan Ehlers, Vice President of the German Skat Association, also showed his compassion when he invested a great deal of creativity and imagination in linking the tournaments of the Skat World Cup to a good cause.
As Chairman of the Berlin-Brandenburg Skat Association, for years he has been actively involved in raising funds for soldiers in no-fault emergencies by means of his campaign HERZ-Bube (Jack of Hearts). #
Mr. Ehlers, Vice President of the German Skat Association, is awarded honorary membership in recognition of his outstanding commitment. Source: Bundeswehr/Bienert
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At the 2007 General Meeting he presented a 5,280-euro check to General Schneiderhan. In return for his commitment he was awarded honorary membership in the Service Relief Association.
Skat tournament in Termez in support of the Service Relief Association. That night’s winner and his comrades Source: Bundeswehr/Lichte
Comrades on deployment are also integrated into the “recreational program” of the German Skat Association. All participants took the motto “Herz ist Trumpf” (hearts are trump) to heart and made their contribution to help fellow soldiers who had been dealt cruel blows by fate. The management was gratified to find that the number of representatives from trade and industry being thanked for their fund-raising commitment at the annual General Meeting continues to increase. In 2000. The LH-Dienstbekleidung GmbH (military clothing supplier) also showed its commitment to the good cause and donated 14,000 euros (image on the right).
The Düsseldorf-based company Ecolog also expressed its solidarity with the service personnel of the Bundeswehr when it donated 13,000 euros.
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12. The General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
The General Adolf Heusinger Foundation was founded in Oppenheim on 16 September 2005. In the deed of foundation Mrs Ada Guntrum-Heusinger, the daughter of the first Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr, specified that the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association be the Trustee of the foundation.
In doing so, she intended to carry on the legacy of her father, who was one of the founding fathers of the Service Relief Association after the tragic accident in the Iller River in 1957.
The purpose of the foundation is the provision of financial support and aid as well as pastoral care for protestant soldiers of the Bundeswehr who are affected by physical and social problems, spiritual crises and financial
pressures through no fault of their own. This also goes for protestant soldiers who are facing problems other than those listed above and will not receive other forms of help.
Signing of the deed of foundation by Mrs. Ada Gruntum-Heusinger, Generaldekan (ret.) Erhard Knauer (head of the Bundeswehr Protestant Church Office) and General Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Chairman of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association, in Oppenheim on 16 September 2005 Source: SHWBw
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
13. Partners in a supportive network
Apart from the donors, the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association also has other reliable supporters. Within a supportive network it cooperates very closely with disciplinary superiors and company sergeants, the Bundeswehr Social Services, and, if necessary, with military chaplains and Family Support Centers.
Joining hands for a good cause Source: Susanne LIcht
The General Adolf Heusinger Foundation has at its disposal funds worth 303,000 euros. The Service Relief Association is the trustee and the administrating and operating institution of the foundation. “This way we can continue the legacy of the first Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr,” said General Schneiderhan. General Adolf Heusinger is one of those who initiated the foundation of the Service Relief Association. The Chairman was very delighted to see that in signing the deed of foundation part of the history of the German Armed Forces was documented.
However, the Service Relief Association also receives support from foundations that have close ties with the Bundeswehr such as the “von Rohdich’sche Legatenfonds”, a legacy fund established by the Prussian general and minister of war Friedrich Wilhelm von Rohdich that has by tradition been supporting children of service personnel.
There has also been a faithful, continued and fruitful cooperation with the Bundeswehr Welfare Association and the charity foundation of the German Bundeswehr Association, the Heinz Volland Foundation. The same applies to the Navy Officer Support Organization in Bonn.
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14. The past 50 years – facts and figures
“Every ‘thank you’ is also a ‘you’re welcome’,” says General Schneiderhan and calls on everybody to stay committed to comradely support.
So far there has been no need to worry as the level of money raised through donations remained stable despite cuts in Armed Forces personnel. Keeping it this way is a key task for the future.
Provision of comradely support from 2002 to 2007 Sorted by type
Paternity BSC 373
Death off-duty 236 Death of dependant 187 Illness & No-fault visiting emergency costs 151 129 Death Rejected on-duty requests 81 76
s
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The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association Trustee of the General Adolf Heusinger Foundation
15. The chairmen of the Service Relief Association
The Federal Minister of Defense 18 October 1957 to 10 July 1958 Franz-Josef Strauß,
The Chiefs of Staff, Bundeswehr
General Adolf Heusinger 11 July 1958 to 20 February 1961 General Friedrich Foertsch 21 February 1961 to 5 February 1964 General Heinz Trettner 6 February 1964 to 26 January 1967 General Ulrich de Maizière 27 January 1967 to 24 February 1972 Admiral Armin Zimmermann 25 February 1972 to 24 March 1977 General Harald Wust 25 March 1977 to 5 April 1979 General Jürgen Brandt 6 April 1979 to 17 March 1983
General Wolfgang Altenburg 18 March 1983 to 10 April 1986 Admiral Dieter Wellershof 11 April 1986 to 12 March 1992 General Klaus Naumann 13 March 1992 to 14 January 1996 General Hartmut Bagger 15 January 1996 to 3 March 1999 General Hans-P. v. Kirchbach 4 March 1999 to 29 June 2000 Lieutenant General (MC) Dr. Karl Demmer 20 February 2001 to 9 July 2002 as Deputy Chairman General Harald Kujat 20 February 2001 to 9 July 2002 General Wolfgang Schneiderhan since 10 July 2002 Dr. Kurth-Bernhard Nakath since 31 August 2006 as Deputy Chairman
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ANNEX
A Excerpt from the charter of the Bundeswehr Service Relief Association
§ 1 Name and location of the association The name of the association is “Soldatenhilfswerk der Bundeswehr e.V.”. It
is located in Bonn (...).
§ 2 Purpose of the association The association is an organization founded to provide comradely support. It exclusively and immediately pursues purposes of charity as defined in the section of the German Tax Code entitled “Tax-Privileged Purposes". Its purpose is the administration of a fund made up of voluntary donations from Bundeswehr service personnel in order to support needy fellow soldiers and their dependants/bereaved in case of catastrophes and other accidents as well as in other no-fault emergencies under exceptional circumstances. Reservists will only receive support if they are affected by an emergency as a result of their military service or voluntary reservist work. The association is engaged in charitable activities and does not primarily pursue economic purposes of its own (...).
§ 5 Membership Bundeswehr service personnel and soldiers’ associations having legal capacity as well as the Federal Minister of Defense can become members of the association. The members, if they are active soldiers, will help the association accomplish its task as defined by its charter by doing voluntary work. All necessary expenses will be reimbursed. There are no membership fees (...).
§10 The Donations Committee The Donations Committee consists of members of the association and will be convened by a member of the Board, who at the same time is part of the Management, if necessary. It has at least five members. (...) If necessary, spouses/partners/parents of affected soldiers as well as members of the Social Services will be invited to attend meetings in which the provision of allowances is discussed (...).
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§12 Allocation of funds The available funds should be used when financial support from the government is not provided or is not sufficient in an emergency. Requests for support (comradely support) can be forwarded by all Bundeswehr soldiers, their dependants/bereaved, the Social Services located at the garrison administration offices, and the disciplinary superiors. Such requests can be filed up to three months after retiring from military service if the difficulty a person is facing was caused by an incident taking place during his or her military service. Each request requires the consent of the immediate disciplinary superior. This does not apply if it is the disciplinary superior who files the request. Under exceptional circumstances and notwithstanding § 2, for reasons of solidarity comradely support will be granted to the bereaved of civilian employees who were affected by accidents or catastrophes while deployed together with soldiers. The Bundeswehr Service Relief Association does not grant loans. As a rule, comradely support will not be provided to cover costs for household goods or material damage caused by purchasing cars, real estates or luxury goods. The association’s capital is used to raise a relief fund (minimum reserve) containing 400,000 euros or more. This money will be exclusively used to provide support in case of accidents and catastrophes as well as to help Bundeswehr service personnel who were injured while on duty. If necessary, the relief fund will be supplemented by annual yields and surplus profits. It is the Board that decides what kind of support and how much money will be granted in the above cases. There is no legal claim to support (comradely support). No appeal can be lodged against the decisions made by the Donations Committee.
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B Details to be provided by the requesting person
General data to be provided: Beneficiary of comradely support, including current home address and duty address, rank, status, bank code and account number Consent of the disciplinary superior, including rank and name Description of the circumstances, reasons for no-fault emergency
In case of maternity/paternity of basic service conscripts (BSC): Entry into service, termination of service Birth certificate, recognition of maternity/paternity In case of single BSC the banking details of the child’s mother Note: For extended voluntary service conscripts (EVSC) the date of entry into EVSC status is to be specified. If the child is born within the EVSC status period no comradely support will be granted.
In case of death of a soldier, child, parent (only temporary-career volunteers / EVSC / BSC): Death certificate Cause of death of soldier: Service-related accident/on-duty accident/ off-duty accident/illness
Conclusive evidence of the neediness of the beneficiary of comradely support In case of death of domestic partner: submit evidence of having shared a place
If the requesting person ran into financial difficulties that are not of his/her own making: Documentation of the economic situation (see annex C); forms available
for download on the Bundeswehr Intranet: Intr@net aktuell – Startseite Gesellschaft Soziales weiterführende Links Soldatenhilfswerk and on the internet: www.bundeswehr.de Soziales Soldatenhilfswerk Information about current or planned involvement of other relief organizations
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In case of sickness of soldiers or closest dependants: Documentation of the economic situation (see form on website: Bundeswehr.de/Soldatenhilfswerk or Bundeswehr Intranet) Documentation of visiting costs (form available for download on the above-
mentioned websites)
Further Information on processing requests Intr@net aktuell (see above) Internet: www.bundeswehr.de (see above)
Information for donors All individual donors receive a letter of thanks and receipts for their donations if they exceed € 100. Receipts can be issued for donations of € 10 or more if donations have been raised through a collection with donor listing. Donors making large donations are honored by the Chief of Staff, Bundeswehr.
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C Documentation of the economic situation
Monthly net income Monthly expenditures in full euros in full euros Soldier: Rental costs: Husband / wife: Rent: Father / mother Utility charges (approximately): Children living with the requesting person Water / sewerage (approximately): Heating: 1st Child; age:...... Electricity / gas: training allowance / student’s grant Insurances: nd 2 Child; age:...... training allowance / student's grant
3rd Child; age:...... training allowance / student's grant
Child benefit: Rent subsidy / rent allowance: Motor vehicle: Other income: Motor vehicle tax: (e.g. child-raising allowance / allowances Third-party liability insurance: i.a.w. the Conscripts and Dependants Travel expenses (approximately): Maintenance Act, other allowances ) Costs incurred for transportation by bus / rail if required for daily activities (approximately): Monthly family income Communication/media: minus total amount of expenditures Telephone (approximately):
Newspaper (approximately): Amount remaining for living expenses Radio / television (approximately): for persons Kindergarten: Contributions to professional associations (approximately): Loans: Information about ownership of property, 1st loan for:...... nd capital property, if applicable 2 loan for:...... ...... Other monthly expenditures:
Total amount of expenditures
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D Reimbursement of travel expenses – Page 1
Calculation of visiting costs A. Travel expenses I. Calculation a) Costs incurred for use of private motor vehicle from (date) ...... to (date) ...... Distance Number of Total 0.20 euros Amount X = X = (one way) rides kilometers (euros) X = X 0.20 = X = X 0.20 = X = X 0.20 =
b) Public transportation costs from (date) ...... to (date) ...... Cost of return ticket (euros) = Amount (euros)
c) Costs incurred for daily ride to work from (date) ...... to (date) ...... Distance to Number of Total ... euros Amount work (one X rides = kilometers X = (euros) way) X = X = X = X = X = X =
d) Reimbursement of travel expenses: euros
II. Eligible costs / reimbursement Costs i.a.w. I a) Costs i.a.w. I b) minus costs i.a.w. I c) minus travel allowance i.a.w. I d) Total amount
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Reimbursement of travel expenses – Page 2
B. Other costs I. a) Costs for overnight stays from (date) ...... to (date) …….. Number of Per person Number of Total amount overnight X (euros) X persons = (euros) stays
b) Reimbursement by the employer: euros c) Amount of the difference: euros
d) Total amount euros
II. a) Subsistence costs during overnight stays from (date) ...... to (date) ...... Number of meals Per person Number of Total amount X X = (euros) persons (euros)
b) Reimbursement by the employer: euros c) Total amount euros
C. Comradely support Total amount of A II: euros Total amount of B I: euros
Total euros amount:
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E Example of a request for the reimbursement of visiting costs – Page 1–
First name: Kevin Last name: Saubermann Rank: Private First Class (enlisted for 4 yrs) Military Service No.: 151180 – S – 70520 Unit: 2nd Coy of XYZ Tank Battalion Duty address: Husarenweg 10 30453 Wiesendorf Home address: Max-Planck-Straße 77 058910 Burgweiler Status: Temporary-career volunteer enlisted for four years Entry into service: 1 January 2003 End of service: 31 December 2006
Personal details: PFC Saubermann is a tanker and belongs to the 2nd Coy of XYZ Tank Battalion in Wiesendorf. He is considered to be reliable and physically resilient. He is single and lives at his mother’s place together with his still underage brother.
Description of the circumstances:
On 14 March 2005 PFC Saubermann was severely injured in a train accident. There was no third party fault. He lost his left lower arm and his right arm. He did not have casualty insurance and needs continuous nursing support. From 14 March 2005 to 15 March 2005 the soldier received initial medical treatment at the municipal hospital in Neuburg, which is located near the site of the accident. On 16 March 2005 he was transferred to the hospital in Halle, which is closer to his home in Freiberg.
On 13 June 2005 he was transferred to a special rehabilitation hospital in Waldstadt where he will receive a lower-arm prosthesis and undergo subsequent physiotherapy.
The request for the reimbursement of visiting costs was filed for the mother of the soldier, Mrs. Saubermann. She and her minor son live in a small flat in Freiberg. As her unemployed son is living on government allowances, she is not entitled to receive financial support for housing and heating costs according to German laws. The father of the minor son is dead. However, she is not receiving a widow’s pension, as she was not married to him.
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There are no other sources of income. On 17 May 2005, the administration section of XYZ Tank Battalion decided that Mrs. Saubermann will not receive financial support in the form of reimbursement of travel costs for visiting her son in hospital. It was found out that the distance between the soldier’s
residence and his duty location is longer than the distance between his residence and the place where he is hospitalized. However, a family member will only be given financial support for visits at two-week intervals if it is the other way round
The following documentation of Mrs. Saubermann’s economic situation makes clear that visiting her son at regular intervals places her in financial distress as visiting costs for two persons would amount to about 300 euros per month.
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Example of a request for the reimbursement of visiting costs – Page 2–
Monthly net income Monthly expenditures in full euros in full euros Mother of the soldier: Rental costs: Mrs. Saubermann (receives welfare Rent: benefits) Child: Age:...17... Utility charges incl. water / sewerage (approximately): Children living with the requesting Heating / electricity / gas: person: 1 small additional income every month Training allowance Insurances: Old-age insurance Child benefit: Casualty insurance
Half-orphan benefits Motor vehicle: Other income: Motor vehicle tax: (e.g. child-raising allowance / Third-party liability insurance: allowances i.a.w. the Conscripts Travel expenses (approximately): and Dependants Maintenance Act, other allowances ) Costs incurred for transportation by bus / rail if required for daily activities (approximately): Monthly family income Communication/media: minus total amount of expenditures Telephone (approximately): Newspaper (approximately): Amount remaining for living Radio / television (approximately): expenses for persons Kindergarten: Contributions to professional associations (approximately): Loans: Paying off overdraft debt Information about ownership of property, capital property, if applicable Other monthly expenditures: Total amount of expenditures
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Example of a request for the reimbursement of visiting costs – Page 3–
Calculation of visiting costs A. Travel expenses I. Calculation a) Costs incurred for use of private motor vehicle from 13 March 2005 to 16 March 2005 from Freiberg to Neuburg ......
Distance (one Number of Total 0.20 euros Amount X = X = way) rides kilometers (euros) 430 X 2 = 860 X 0.20 = 172,00.-
b Costs incurred for use of private motor vehicle from 17 March 2005 to 11 May 2005 from Freiberg to Halle ...... Distance (one Number of Total 0.20 euros Amount X = X = way) rides kilometers (euros) 150 X 29 = 4350 X 0.20 = 870,00.-
c) Public transportation costs on 1 May 2005…….. Cost of return ticket (euros) = Amount (euros) 70,00.-
d) Costs for overnight stays on from 13 March 2005 to 15 March 2005 Number of overnight Per person Number of Total amount X X = stays (euros) persons (euros) 1 (mother and minor son) 2 110,00.-
e) Reimbursement of travel expenses: 00,00.-
II. Eligible costs / reimbursement Costs i.a.w. I a) 172,00.- Costs i.a.w. I b) 870,00.-
Costs i.a.w. I c) 70,00.-
Costs i.a.w. I d) 110,00.-
minus travel allowance i.a.w. I e) 00,00.-
Total amount 1222,00.-
Assessment (Service Relief Association)
Recommendation (Service Relief Association)
Decision of the Donations Committee
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Notes
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