ufthansa Backs Bundeswehr in New Pact

By Elke Porter | Canadian German Business News | June 4, 2025
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In a rare move blending corporate civic responsibility with national defense, the Bundeswehr and Lufthansa Group have signed a formal partnership to support Germany’s Heimatschutz, or homeland protection service. The agreement, announced today in Frankfurt, allows Lufthansa employees to volunteer as reservists while receiving organizational support, including leave for training, education, and potential deployment.

The pact was officially sealed as Lufthansa Executive Board Member Michael Niggemann accepted a partnership certificate from Brigadier General Holger Radmann, representing the Bundeswehr’s Landeskommando Hessen. “In view of the current security policy situation and the often-cited Zeitenwende,” Niggemann stated, “it is particularly important to us to sensitize our employees to the importance of the Heimatschutz.”

With this agreement, Lufthansa becomes the latest major employer in Hessen to formally back Germany’s reserve forces. The initiative is aimed at strengthening civilian-military cooperation and raising awareness of the vital role of volunteer reservists in times of national crisis. Tasks performed by these reservists range from protecting critical infrastructure to assisting with disaster relief.

The partnership applies to all Lufthansa Group employees who hold a German passport. Participation remains voluntary, and decisions on leaves of absence will be assessed individually. Given Lufthansa’s large workforce in the Rhine-Main region, particular emphasis will be placed on supporting Heimatschutzregiment 5, headquartered in Hessen. Currently, over 2,400 volunteers from the region have joined that regiment.

By joining a network of more than 250 regional employers already committed to the Heimatschutz, Lufthansa is underscoring a broader corporate ethos—one that recognizes national security as a shared societal responsibility. The company has committed to working closely with the Bundeswehr to inform employees about this opportunity and ensure seamless integration into reserve duties.

The move reflects a growing recognition among Germany’s leading institutions that civilian contributions are essential in bolstering the country’s defense readiness during a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

#Lufthansa Group #Bundeswehr Partnership #Heimatschutz #Corporate Civic Duty #German Security #Reservist Support #German Canadian Business News #Elke Porter