Directorate for Security Policy in the BMLV

The Direktion für Sicherheitspolitik im BMLV (Directorate for Security Policy in the Federal Ministry of Defence) is an organisational unit within Austria's Federal Ministry of Defence (Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung, BMLV). It operates within the framework of the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer), the country's national military. The Bundesheer's stated mission is to protect the inhabitants of Austria: against external attacks, when internal security is threatened, and during natural disasters or major accidents. It also contributes to security and peace abroad through international missions. The Directorate for Security Policy is part of the ministry's structure that shapes and coordinates these security policy objectives. The Austrian Armed Forces trace their modern history to 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty was signed and the first Defence Act was passed, establishing general conscription and a nine-month regular presence service. The B-Gendarmerie served as the predecessor organisation in post-war occupied Austria. Since 1955, the men and women of the Bundesheer have repeatedly been deployed to protect Austria's borders and to help people after disasters, and since 1960 also worldwide. The Directorate for Security Policy in the BMLV is a state-owned entity, funded by the Republic of Austria, and is not a commercial brand in the traditional sense but a governmental security policy body. Its work supports the Bundesheer's core competencies: military national defence, assistance in domestic emergencies, and assistance abroad in peace-supporting or peacekeeping missions.

The Direktion für Sicherheitspolitik im BMLV is part of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence (Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung, BMLV). Its history is intertwined with that of the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) and Austria's post-World War II security policy. After the end of World War II, Austria was occupied by the Allied powers, and early attempts to establish Austrian armed forces failed due to the Allied Council's intervention. However, the Western Allies made Austrian independence dependent on rearmament. In the occupied zones of the Western powers, so-called "Alarmbataillone" (alert battalions) were created within the existing Federal Gendarmerie, equipped largely with American and British equipment, weapons, and vehicles. These units, along with the "Hilfskörper II" and "MU" (mobile unit) formations, became the B-Gendarmerie, the predecessor organisation of the Bundesheer. On 15 May 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed, containing military provisions in Articles 12-17 and Annex I. On 8 July 1955, the Allied Council's ban on military activities was lifted. On 15 July 1955, the Office for National Defence was established as Section VI of the Federal Chancellery, headed by Dr. Ing. Emil Liebitzky. On 27 July 1955, the B-Gendarmerie's gendarmerie schools were converted into provisional border protection departments. On 7 September 1955, the first Defence Act was passed, establishing the Bundesheer based on general conscription with a nine-month regular presence service. On 15 October 1955, nine supplementary commands were established. On 26 October 1955, the Federal Constitutional Law on Austria's Neutrality was enacted. Since 1955, the Bundesheer has been deployed to protect Austria's borders and assist in disasters, and since 1960 also in international missions. The Directorate for Security Policy in the BMLV continues this legacy by formulating and coordinating security policy within the ministry.

• 1955: Signing of the Austrian State Treaty, containing military provisions.

• 1955: First Defence Act passed, establishing the Bundesheer with general conscription.

• 1955: Federal Constitutional Law on Austria's Neutrality enacted.

• 1960: Austrian soldiers begin participating in international missions.

Governmental security policy directorate within Austria's Federal Ministry of Defence, supporting the Austrian Armed Forces' mission.

1. 1Das Österreichische Bundesheerbundesheer.at
2. 2Geschichte des Bundesheeres | Bundesheerbundesheer.at
3. 3B-Gendarmerie | Bundesheerbundesheer.at
4. 4Geschichte ab 1955 | Bundesheerbundesheer.at
5. 5Direktion für Sicherheitspolitik im BMLVwikidata.org