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1 (German/Netherlands) Corps
The headquarters of 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps was established in 1995 and is located in Münster, Germany. It is one of the NATO High Readiness Forces (Land) Headquarters (HRF (L) HQ) and can fully deploy within 20 days, either on NATO territory or beyond.
It can then command an international military force of more than 50,000 personnel in a crisis area.
In 2003, the multinational headquarters was deployed for the first time in its new role as NATO HQ to Afghanistan, where it commanded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
The headquarters of 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps can be deployed for the NATO Response Force (NRF). If required, the NRF provides NATO’s rapid response to crises, anywhere in the world. As is the case for air and maritime operations, NATO maintains a headquarters on standby for deployment on land. For this purpose, the headquarters of 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps alternates with five other NATO headquarters. Once every three years, the headquarters in Münster holds Land Component Command status for a period of six months.
The staff of the headquarters consists of more than 400 military and civilian personnel. Most of the positions are divided equally between Germany and the Netherlands. Some 70 positions are reserved for military personnel from other NATO and EU member states.
The staff in Münster nowadays includes military personnel from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The cooperation within one staff, usually within one office, guarantees international integration. The official language within the headquarters is English.
The commander, a lieutenant general, is from one of the two framework nations, Germany and the Netherlands. This position is held on a two to three-year rotational basis. When a new commander is appointed, a number of German and Dutch key positions within the headquarters also change nationality.
The Staff Support Battalion and the Communication & Information Systems Battalion, comprising Dutch and German personnel, provides support to the headquarters.
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