Christian Freuding becomes the new Inspector General of the Bundeswehr

Leadership of the Bundeswehr Freuding becomes the new Inspector General As of: November 5th, 2026 • 6:15 p.m

Change at the top of the Bundeswehr: Christian Freuding becomes the new inspector general and thus the highest-ranking soldier in the force. Freuding was the right person for “the new era,” said Defense Minister Pistorius.

The previous army inspector Christian Freuding will become the new inspector general in February and thus the highest-ranking soldier in the Bundeswehr.

The lieutenant general will succeed General Carsten Breuer at the beginning of February 2027, as the Defense Ministry announced. Breuer was elected chairman of the NATO Military Committee in September and is moving to Brussels.

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Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) explained that Freuding had all the prerequisites to lead the soldiers "into the new era in which we have to protect ourselves better than in previous decades." The Bundeswehr is growing rapidly, is firmly anchored in society and is taking on more responsibility within the NATO alliance. “To do this, it needs a strong, clever and convincing leader at its head,” explained Pistorius.

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After the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022, Freuding took over the management of the Ukraine Special Staff in the ministry and thus coordinated German military aid for the country. From 2023 to 2025 he led this newly created planning and command staff in the ministry before being appointed Inspector of the Army in October 2025.

Experts attribute the fact that Ukraine is still holding its own militarily almost five years after the start of the Russian invasion to a large extent to Western military aid.

Defense Minister Pistorius emphasizes that Freuding analyzed the rapid technical developments in this war. And from Boris Pistorius' perspective, the 55-year-old also drew the right conclusions for the Bundeswehr - for example with regard to the use and defense of drones. The previous army chief is seen as someone who is determined to modernize the armed forces.

Previously, the political scientist was, among other things, brigade commander and adjutant to then Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen from 2017 to 2019. The army reconnaissance officer completed foreign missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Afghanistan.

With information from Mario Kubina, ARD capital studio

This topic in the program: BR24 Radio | News | November 5, 2026 | 2:45 p.m