defense ministry
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defense ministry
The highest authority of a state responsible for military defense, the armed forces, and all related administrative tasks.
Das Verteidigungsministerium gab die Anschaffung neuer Ausrüstung für die Armee bekannt.
The Defense Ministry announced the purchase of new equipment for the army.
This long word can be broken down easily: It consists of 'Verteidigung' (defense), the linking -s, and 'Ministerium' (ministry). So it is literally the ministry responsible for a country's defense.
Der Sprecher des Verteidigungsministeriums trat vor die Presse.
The spokesperson for the Defense Ministry appeared before the press.
The word follows a typical pattern for German ministries: [area of responsibility] + -ministerium. If you know this pattern, you can also understand and form other ministry names such as 'das Finanzministerium' (the Ministry of Finance) or 'das Außenministerium' (the Foreign Ministry).
Das Finanzministerium ist für den Staatshaushalt verantwortlich.
The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the national budget.
Common phrases are 'eine Mitteilung des Verteidigungsministeriums' (a statement from the Defense Ministry), 'im Verteidigungsministerium arbeiten' (to work in the Defense Ministry), or 'eine Anfrage an das Verteidigungsministerium richten' (to submit an inquiry to the Defense Ministry).
Er arbeitet seit fünf Jahren im Verteidigungsministerium.
He has worked in the Defense Ministry for five years.
Bundeswehr
'die Bundeswehr' and 'das Verteidigungsministerium' are both connected with military defense, but they refer to different things. 'die Bundeswehr' is the German armed forces themselves, meaning the female and male soldiers and the military branches. 'das Verteidigungsministerium' is the highest authority responsible for defense and for administering the armed forces. They can be confused because they work closely together. Put simply: the Bundeswehr carries out military tasks; the Defense Ministry organizes and directs things at the government level.
Vor dem Termin hat die Mitarbeiterin eine Anfrage an das Verteidigungsministerium geschickt.
Before the appointment, the employee sent an inquiry to the Defense Ministry.
Am Montag informiert sich Frau Krüger über eine Ausbildung bei der Bundeswehr.
On Monday, Ms. Krüger is finding out about training with the Bundeswehr.