Corps of Engineers

The Bundeswehr’s combat engineers, also known as Pioniere, developed from three historical predecessors: the Sappeur (who built trenches and other types of cover), the Mineur (who handled explosives and mines) and the Pontonier (who built bridges).

The armies of ancient Rome already had specialized soldiers, skilled craftsmen known as fabri. The first engineers, by today’s standards, were trained and employed as entrenchment builders in France and Germany from around 1500. In the Prussian Army, the term Pionier , or pioneer, first appeared in the Regiment Pionniers. By royal decree, this regiment was formed on 8 January 1742 by General Gerhard Cornelius von Walrawe, King Frederick the Great’s master military architect.

The term Pionier in its modern military sense of combat engineer was used for the first time in 1810. At the suggestion of General Gerhard von Scharnhorst, the already existing Mineur and Pontonier companies were combined to form a corps of pioneers, or combat engineers. Due to the rapid pace of technological development, engineering equipment was continuously updated. At the same time, the personnel strength of the combat engineer force continued to increase, and from 1860, it had its own combat engineer battalions and colours.

During the grinding trench warfare on all fronts of World War I, the combat engineer force gained immense importance. Due to an enormous requirement for specialised support in all types of combat operations, a large variety of special engineer units were established: construction and bridging engineers, railway engineers, “mine launcher” or mortar engineers, assault engineers, trench-builder engineers, and battalions that built or improved military works, roads and other infrastructure. Other engineer units deployed chemical weapons and flamethrowers.

From 1921, after the end of World War I and as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, the combat engineers were considerably reduced in strength until the Reichswehr was disbanded. Railway troops and flamethrowers were forbidden altogether. From 1935, however, with the establishment of the Wehrmacht, the personnel strength of the combat engineer force was again increased. The railway engineers, which had been prohibited, were re-established. Additionally, efforts were made to motorise the combat engineer force.

The outbreak of World War II considerably accelerated technological progress in the development of engineer explosive ordnance and engineer equipment. The combat engineer force was once again expanded and further specialised. In addition to traditional engineering tasks, combat engineers were also employed on all fronts as assault engineers providing immediate support to the infantry. Airborne engineers were formed to support the paratroopers. As an important condition for Army logistic support, railway engineers expanded the rail network in the conquered territories. Construction and fortification engineers helped build the Atlantic Wall and the Siegfried Line and were also employed for national and coastal defence. In 1944, around 600 engineer battalions existed. After Germany surrendered in 1945, the combat engineers, as part of the Wehrmacht, were completely disbanded.

With the establishment of the Bundeswehr in 1955, a new Corps of Engineers was set up as well.

Technological progress made in the years following the Second World War was of major importance for the development and introduction of weapons and equipment. For the first time, special engineers were employed to build and maintain pipeline systems to provide fuel to the armed forces. During the Cold War, a strong Corps of Engineers was developed. It consisted of active-duty soldiers of the Field Army under NATO command as well as of active-duty soldiers and reservists of the national Territorial Army.

The 1962 flood disaster of Hamburg was the first major test for the Bundeswehr and particularly the Corps of Engineers. With their assault and inflatable boats, the engineers saved many lives. Numerous other relief operations at home and abroad followed. Using their heavy equipment, engineer forces proved their worth, such as in 1976 and 1980 during the earthquake relief efforts in Italy, in 1978 during wildfires in the Lüneburg Heath, and in 1979 during the snow disaster in Schleswig-Holstein.

In the early nineties, German reunification and the end of the East-West conflict brought formidable structural change to the Corps of Engineers. The Field and Territorial Armies were combined, and the Corps of Engineers was adapted to requirements and scaled down. Current engineering capabilities were tailored to stability operations. For many years, the focus was on operations in the Balkans and in Afghanistan. Since 2016, the focus is once again being placed on national and collective defence.