Bundeswehr: Christian Freuding becomes new Inspector General

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained that Freuding had all the prerequisites to lead the soldiers “into the new era in which we have to protect ourselves better than in previous decades.” As head of the Special Staff in Ukraine, Freuding analyzed the technical developments in the Russian war against Ukraine and drew conclusions for the Bundeswehr.

As an army inspector, he quickly derived the right measures from this, for example when setting up the first drone regiment. Pistorius praised Freuding as an internationally recognized and convincing leader.

After the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022, Freuding took over the management of the special staff ‌Ukraine in the ministry and thus coordinated German military aid for the country. From 2023 to 2025 he headed the newly created planning and command staff in the ministry before being appointed inspector of the army in October 2025.

The political scientist was previously, among other things, brigade commander and adjutant to the then Defense Minister from 2017 to 2019. The army reconnaissance officer completed foreign missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Afghanistan.

Pistorius pointed out that Freuding, as head of the Ukraine special staff, had already "analyzed the rapid technical developments in Putin's war against Ukraine and drawn conclusions for the Bundeswehr's defense capability." As an army inspector, he then derived and implemented the right measures in a very short time - for example by setting up the first drone regiment.