50th Anniversary Family Celebration

Koblenz, 09/12/2007.
The Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) was established 50 years ago: a reason to celebrate for all personnel, former staff members and their families.

The Koblenzer Hof in the early days of the BWB (Source: Bundeswehr / BWB)

The members of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement celebrated the 50th anniversary of their agency with a family celebration in Koblenz on 12 September 2007. In addition to the personnel and their families as well as numerous former staff members several well-known guests had also followed the invitation.

The President of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, Detlev Petry, welcomed the high-ranking representatives of the City of Koblenz, the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Bundeswehr and the defense technology industry. In his opening speech President Petry referred to the importance of the agency for the Bundeswehr: “Providing the Armed Forces with operational and reliable materiel at economical conditions is our main task.”

President Petry explained that the increasing number of Bundeswehr missions abroad was not only a burden on the soldiers, but also placed completely new demands on the materiel and therefore on the BWB. In this context he particularly thanked the staff for their commitment in the performance of their duties.

Dr. Hans-Peter Volkert, former President of the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate and himself a longtime employee of the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, delivered the festive speech on the family day. His historical abstract illustrated the past 50 years of the agency established in 1957 and reminded of some important events from the early days.

After the ceremonial act the guests themselves were able to receive an impression of the past of their agency in the exhibition of pictures named “50 Jahre BWB” and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at the family celebration.

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