31st Airborne Brigade (Bundeswehr)

The 31st (Oldenburg) Airborne Brigade (German: Luftlandebrigade 31 “Oldenburg“) was a 3,600 man strong formation in the German Army with its headquarters in Oldenburg in north Germany. It was subordinated to the Special Operations Division and classified as part of the Army’s stabilisation forces. All elements of the Brigade were stationed in the state of Lower Saxony, the majority in Seedorf.

31st (Oldenburg) Airborne Brigade
Luftlandebrigade 31 "Oldenburg"
Formation sign
Active26 March 1993– 18 September 2014[1]
Country Germany
AllegianceBundeswehr
Branch German Army
TypeStabilisation force brigade
Size~ 3600 men
Part of Special Operations Division
Headquarters locationOldenburg
Motto(s)Einsatzbereit – jederzeit – weltweit
Ready – anytime – worldwide
MarchFridericus-Rex-Grenadiermarsch
Commanders
CommanderBrigadegeneral Reinhardt Zudrop

In 2014 the brigade was restructured as 31st Paratrooper Regiment which joined the 1st Airborne Brigade on 1 April 2015.

Commanders edit

The following commanders have led the Brigade (rank given on appointment):

No. Name Takeover date Handover date
8 Brigadegeneral Reinhardt Zudrop 11 November 2010 ---
7 Brigadegeneral Frank Leidenberger 1 June 2008 11 November 2010
6 Oberst Dieter Warnecke 2005 1 June 2008
5 Oberst Rainer Hartbrod 24 October 2003 2005
4 Oberst Hans Günter Engel 12 September 2002 September 2003
3 Oberst Carl-Hubertus von Butler 24 September 1999 12 September 2002
2 Oberst Bernd Müller 28 March 1994 24 September 1999
1 Oberst Volker Löw 26 March 1993 28 March 1994

Subordinate units edit

  •   31st Airborne Brigade HQ Company
  •   270 Airborne Engineer Company (Luftlandepionierkompanie 270)
  •   272 Airborne Support Battalion (LuftlandeunterstützungsBtl 272)
  •   310 Airborne Recce Company (LuftlandeaufklärungsKp 310)
  •   313 Parachute Battalion (Fallschirmjägerbataillon 313)
  •   373 Parachute Battalion (Fallschirmjägerbataillon 373)

See also edit

Literature edit

Sören Sünkler: Die Spezialverbände der Bundeswehr. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag 2007. ISBN 3-613-02592-2

References edit

  1. ^ "Heer". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014.

External links edit

53°05′32″N 8°13′14″E / 53.092272°N 8.220649°E / 53.092272; 8.220649