Kingdom of Bavaria

[pMASTER]

INTRODUCTION

LOCATION

• Central Europe, west of Czechia, north of Austria
• south-eastern corner of the Confederacy of German States

NATIONAL SYMBOLS
FLAG

• fusily bendwise argent and azure
  ☞ heraldic tinctures and corresponding colours: argent (silver), or (gold), gules (red), sable (black), azure (blue), vert (green)

HERALDIC ACHIEVEMENT

• Quarterly, Sable a lion rampant Or crowned armed and langued gules (Electorate of the Rhine); per fess dancetty Gules and Argent (Duchy of Franconia); Argent a panther rampant Azure armed and langued Gules (County Palatine of Ratisbon, Lordship of Upper Bavaria); Or three lions passant guardant Sable crowned armed and langued gules (Dukedom of Swabia); Overall an inescutcheon fusily bendwise Argent and Azure (House of Wittelsbach)

ANTHEM

• 'Bayernhymne' (Hymn of Bavaria)

MOTTO

• Cum fide virtutis (Latin: steadfast in loyalty)

FOUNDATION

• October 1 2011

HISTORICAL AFFILIATIONS

• Duchy of Bavaria (Holy Roman Empire) 962–1806
• Kingdom of Bavaria, 1806–1918
• Kingdom of Bavaria (German Empire), 1871–1918
• People's State of Bavaria (Realm of Germany), 1919–1945
  ☞ statehood lost under Nazi rule 1935–1945
• State of Bavaria (American Zone of Occupation), 1945–1949
• Free State of Bavaria (Federal Republic of Germany) 1949–2011
• Kingdom of Bavaria (Confederacy of German States) 2011–

CAPITAL

• Munich

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S)

• German

GEOGRAPHY

AREA

• 71,259.77 km² (27,513.55 mi²)

CLIMATE

• temperate, continental in some regions
• cold, wet winters and warm summers

TERRAIN

• mostly rolling hills and low mountains; Alps in south
• ranging from 110 m (360 ft) to 2,963 m (9,721 ft)

NATURAL RESOURCES

• iron, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, silver, tungsten, construction materials, timber, arable land, hydroelectric potential

LAND USE

• agricultural: 46%
• woodland: 36%
• developed or non-claimable: 18%

HAZARDS

• avalanches, flooding, forest fires, landslides, windstorms
• unexploded ordnance and landmines surfacing in cities bombed during World War II and along the former German-German Border

GENERAL INFORMATION

TIME ZONE

• CET, no daylight saving time

MEASUREMENTS
SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT

• metric system

DATE FORMAT

• dd.mm.yyyy (AD); week begins on Monday

COMMUNICATIONS
CALLING CODE

• +422

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

• 111 (police); 112 (fire brigade/rescue services)

INTERNET TOP LEVEL DOMAIN

• .bv
  ☞ purchased from Norway in 2017; not recognised by older browser versions

Public Holidays

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• Epiphany (January 6)
• Candlemas¹ (February 2)
• Good Friday² (Easter Sunday –2d)
• Easter Monday (Easter Sunday +1d)
• Labour Day (May 1)
• Ascension Day (Easter Sunday +39d)
• Whit Monday (Easter Sunday +50d)
• Corpus Christi (Easter Sunday +60d)
• Public Service Recognition Day¹ (August 1)
• Nativity of Mary¹ (September 8)
• National Holiday (October 1)
• All Saints Day² (November 1)
• Remembrance Day² (November 9)
• Christmas Eve (December 24)
• Christmas Day (December 25)
• Saint Stephen's Day (December 26)
• Saint Sylvester's Day¹ (December 30)
  ☞ ¹) indicates half-time holidays, observed from 2 p.m. onwards; ²) indicates "quiet holidays" were unnecessary noise and revelry are prohibited

VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

• drives on the right

LARGEST CITIES

• Munich: 1,503,222 inhabitants
• Nuremberg: 519,344 inhabitants
• Augsburg: 300,010 inhabitants
• Ratisbon: 157,006 inhabitants
• Ingolstadt: 140,198 inhabitants (2021 census)

Demographics and society

POPULATION

• 13,231,995 (75ᵗʰ of 233) (2021 census)

RESIDENTIAL POPULATION BY NATIONALITY/IMMIGRATION BACKGROUND

• 85.1% Bavarian/German
• 3.4% Turkish
• 2.7% Polish
• 1.8% Italian
• 1.1% Romanian
• 1.0% Austrian
• 0.9% Hungarian
• 0.7% Swiss
• 0.3% American
• 3.0% other (2021 census)

RELIGIONS

• 48.8% Catholic
• 17.8% Protestant
• 29.6% Atheist or no confession declared
• 3.7% Muslim
• 0.1% Jewish (2021 census)

AGE STRUCTURE

• 00–24 years of age: 24.30%
• 25–39 years of age: 19.93%
• 40–59 years of age: 28.69%
• 60–74 years of age: 16.36%
• ≥75 years of age: 10.72% (2021 census)

SOCIAL INDICATORS
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI) RATING

• 0.940 (5ᵗʰ of 189) (2020)

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH

• females: 83.85 years (16ᵗʰ of 186) (2021 est.)
• males: 79.17 years (25ᵗʰ of 186) (2021 est.)

MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE

• 5.19/100,000 live births (4ᵗʰ of 189) (2021 est.)

INFANT MORTALITY RATE

• 3.2/1,000 live births (15ᵗʰ of 189) (2021 est.)

LITERACY RATE

• 99.6% (15ᵗʰ of 190) (2022 est.)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 5-YEAR MOVING AVERAGE

• 3.2% (2022 est.)

INCARCERATION RATE

• 99/100,000 capita (73ʳᵈ of 223) (2021)

INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE RATE

• 0.65/100,000 capita (198ᵗʰ of 230) (2020)

SOCIAL ISSUES

• ageing society
• state of division between proponents and opponents of the 2010 referendum
• watchdogs criticise an increasingly illiberal social climate

Politics and administration

FORM OF GOVERNMENT

• constitutional monarchy

HISTORY

• 2007–2010: German Constitutional Crisis; Angela Merkel’s government collapses due to disputes over the "Greek bailout" and the German Länderfinanzausgleich (Interstate Equalisation Payments Pact)
• May 25 2009: Merkel is re-elected in snap elections on a promise of constitutional reform
• August 8 2010 Referendum: Bavaria is the only German state to narrowly vote in favour of secession (51.1% vs. 48.9%); a low turnout (60.3%) and allegations of Russian interference allow federalist and secessionist movements alike to persist
• Bavaria’s secession necessitates a reorganisation of the remaining German states to reflect new economic realities; the (second) Federal Republic of Germany – constituted of partly-sovereign Alemannien (Alemannia), Brandenburg, Hessen-Thüringen (Hesse-Thuringia), Niederrhenanien (Lower Rhenania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Transelbingen (Transalbinia), Oberrhenanien (Upper Rhenania) and Obersachsen (Upper Saxony) –, is proclaimed and votes to form a union with Bavaria
• June 4 2011: monarchists prevail in the Bavarian referendum over the future form of government; the crown is offered to Max-Emanuel, Duke in Bavaria of the House of Wittelsbach (previous Bavarian rulers 1180–1918)
• October 1 2011: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle; the Bund Deutscher Staaten (Confederacy of German States) comprising the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Federal Republic of Germany is formed, as are its institutions (Deutscher Rat or Council of Germany, uniting both governments under a directly elected President; Vollversammlung der Deutschen Staaten or General Assembly of the German States; Schiedsgericht des Bundes or Confederate High Tribunal of Arbitration)
• both nations possess full legal sovereignty and international personality but "coordinate" their policies "where required by the Treaty" (primarily defence, economy, social policy, environment protection, judicial cooperation) and elsewhere "should they so desire"
• January 1 2015: Bavaria joins NATO and becomes a EU pre-accession nation
• March 30 2022: Bavaria joins EU

DEMOCRACY INDEX RATING

• 7.99 (23ʳᵈ of 167) (2020)

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS
LANDSCHAFTEN

• lit. 'lands', i.e. provinces; second-highest level of administration: Niederfranken (Lower Franconia), Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), Oberfranken (Upper Franconia), Oberpfalz (the Upper Palatinate), Schwaben diesseits des Allgäu (Swabia Cisallgovia), Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria), Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria)

KREISE

• lit. 'circles', i.e. districts; third-highest level of administration: 98 in total

GEBIETSKÖRPERSCHAFTEN

• municipalities; fourth-highest level of administration: divided into Städte (cities), Märkte (towns), Gemeinden (parishes), Dörfer (villages) and Weiler (hamlets) – depending on their population size, tax yield and ability to self-administrate

CONSTITUTION
HISTORY

• Bairische Constitution (Constitution of Bavaria) drafted in 1808, first to create (male) universal suffrage within the lands of the former Holy Roman Empire; amended in 1818, it remained in force largely unchanged till 1918; 1919’s first republican constitution was effectively suspended by Nazi rulers in 1933
• democratic Verfassung des Freistaats Bayern (Constitution of the Free State of Bavaria) introduced in 1946 and complemented by the nationwide German Grundgesetz (Basic Law) of 1949
• current: Verfassung des Königreichs Bayern (VKB, Constitution of the Kingdom of Bavaria) and – pertaining to the affairs of the latter – Satzung des Bundes Deutscher Staaten (Charter of the Confederacy of German States), both of which came into force on October 1 2011; the new constitution is largely based on a proposal drafted by exiled Bavarians prior to the Bavarian Restoration by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1945

LIBERTIES

• guarantees human dignity and right to life; personal freedom; equality before the law; free speech; freedom of faith; freedom of assembly; freedom of movement; privacy of correspondence and communications; inviolability of the home; occupational freedom; property and inheritance; right of petition; right to bear arms
  ☞ no restitution of aristocracy; only families who had borne hereditary titles prior to the Bavarian Troubles of 1919 continue to be styled accordingly out of courtesy

SUFFRAGE

• 18 years of age, universal
  ☞ voting is compulsory

LEGISLATURE
LOWER HOUSE

• Abgeordnetenhaus (Chamber of Deputies) with 196 members, 98 of whom directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 98 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote
• main legislative body; members are elected for 4-year terms

UPPER HOUSE

• Rätehaus (Chamber of Councillors) with 98 ordinary members directly elected by proportional representation vote from party lists, and a not-predetermined number of facultative members without voting rights appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Stände (Estates)
  ☞ estates: collective name of the nation’s public-law institutions (e.g. universities, guilds, officially recognised religious organisations etc.), the participation rights of which are calculated anew before each term based on the number of citizens represented by them
• Councillors serve mainly advisory functions (exception: bills on taxation, constitutional law); ordinary/facultative members are elected/appointed for 4-year terms

EXECUTIVE
HEAD OF STATE

• H.M. SOPHIE, Königin der Bayern und Fürstin von Liechtenstein (Queen of the Bavarians and Princess Consort of Liechtenstein) (since April 2 2021 following the abdication of her father MAX-EMANUEL)
• mostly representative functions with some reserve powers (ability to dissolve hung parliament, right to demand new readings of a bill they deem unconstitutional)
• the monarch's constitutional role as a moderator between the executive and legislative branches gives them considerable unofficial influence

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT

• H.E. Xaver TRECHSEL VON TEUFSTETTEN, Staatsminister und Vorsitzender des Ministerrates (Minister of State and Chairman of the Council of Ministers) (in office since November 24 2016)

CABINET

• Council of Ministers; members are appointed and dismissed by the monarch on the Chairman's/Chairwoman's recommendation

ELECTIONS/APPOINTMENTS

• the monarchy is hereditary, the heir apparent being the monarch's eldest child
• parties must gain 3.33% percent of the national vote to gain caucus recognition
• following general elections, the monarch must task the chairman/chairwoman of the largest caucus/coalition in the Chamber of Deputies with the forming of a government; if that deputy is unable to form a government in 45 days, the monarch may give aforesaid task to any other Deputy they deem able
• political parties must commit to a coalition option prior to the elections; no coalition may consist of more than three individual caucuses

JUDICIARY
LEGAL SYSTEM

• civil law system

INTERNATIONAL LAW PARTICIPATION

• accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

HIGHEST COURTS

• Reichsgerichtshof (High Court of Justice): 168 judges organised into 24 7-judge panels (14 ordinary panels, 10 special panels); members are selected by a commission consisting of the Minister of Justice, the deans of law of Bavaria’s universities and an equal number of Deputies and Councillors; the candidates are appointed by the monarch and serve till mandatory retirement at age 66
• Bayerischer Verfassungsgerichtshof (Constitutional Court of Bavaria); 12 judges and 12 alternates, 12 of whom are selected and appointed as above while 12 are co-opted by the sitting judges by way of simple majority vote

CRIMINAL AGE

• 10 years of age

ADMISSIBLE SANCTIONS

• corrective actions: courts may impose alternative sentences tailored to the nature of a (lesser) offence if such punishment may be sufficient to defend the legal order and correct the delinquent's behaviour (e.g. community service)
• monetary fine: imposed in daily rates (no less than 7, no more than 365) set at no less than Ƒ1 and no more than Ƒ1,000,000; default imprisonment can be imposed instead of an unrecoverable fine, with 1 daily rate corresponding to 1 day of imprisonment
• fixed-term imprisonment: between 7 days and 30 years; may be suspended on probation for first offenders
• imprisonment for life: in statute for deliberate causation of death and protracted suffering; life in prison may also be imposed on a multiple offender if all minimum terms of imprisonment would amount to more than 30 years

LIMITATION PERIOD

• corresponds to the admissible minimum term of imprisonment for the offence in question, but at least 3 years; offences punishable by imprisonment for life are not subject to a statute of limitations

POLITICAL ISSUES

• watchdogs criticise what they call an "increasingly illiberal" style of government

Economy

OVERVIEW

• forming a common market with Germany, Bavaria is a part of the European Economic Area (EEA)
• transitional agreements grant tax breaks and other benefits to German companies
• major global economy; home of car manufacturers like Audi, BMW, MAN; consumer goods producers like Adidas, Puma, BSH; engineering firms like Siemens, MTU, Kuka; financial companies like Allianz, Unicredit, Munich Re; tech firms like Infineon, Celonis, Fraunhofer
• sizable tourism sector thanks to world-famous destinations such as Neuschwanstein Castle; winter sports; picturesque nature
• Bavaria has the highest number of breweries and the oldest operating brewery in the world ('Weihenstephan', established 752 AD)

CURRENCY

• Bayerischer Gulden (Bavarian Guilder, linked to the Euro: Ƒ1 = €1 ≅ $1.17)

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

• $769 billion (19ᵗʰ of 186) (2022 est.)

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROWTH RATE

• +1.15% (2022 forecast)
• +0.45% (2021 est.)
• +0.35% (2020)
• +2.55% (2019)
• +2.25% (2018)

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT PER CAPITA

• $58,116 (13ᵗʰ of 186) (2022 est.)

NATIONAL FINANCES
REVENUES

• $299.95 billion (2022)

EXPENDITURES

• $344.10 billion (2022)

PUBLIC DEBT

• 55.20% of GDP (2022)

ECONOMIC PORTFOLIO

• Primary sector: 1.0%
• Secondary sector: 31.9%
• Tertiary sector: 67.1% (2021 est.)

LABOUR FORCE

• 7,875,220 (2022 est.)

AGRICULTURAL GOODS

• wheat, barley, hops, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; dairy products; cattle, pigs, poultry

INDUSTRIES

• among the most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, textiles

EXPORTS

• $296.50 billion (2022 forecast)
• $290.87 billion (2021 est.)
• $298.24 billion (2020 est.)
• $300.90 billion (2019 est.)
• $300.30 billion (2018 est.)

EXPORT PARTNERS OTHER THAN GERMANY

• China (People's Republic of) 8.95%, Netherlands 8.20%, United States 7.43%, France 6.61%, Switzerland 5.55%, Austria 5.19%, Poland 4.37%, United Kingdom 4.29%, Oman 3.41%, Singapore 2.00% (2021)

EXPORTED GOODS

• cars, machinery, electronics, chemicals, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, textiles (2021)

IMPORTS

• $274.05 billion (2022 forecast)
• $274.99 billion (2021 est.)
• $282.70 billion (2020 est.)
• $271.43 billion (2019 est.)
• $269.07 billion (2018 est.)

IMPORT PARTNERS OTHER THAN GERMANY

• Austria 10.68%, Netherlands 10.40%, China (People's Republic of) 8.05%, France 7.23%, Czechia 6.95%, Poland 5.12%, Italy 5.09%, United States 4.78%, Switzerland 4.40%, Belgium 4.23% (2021)

IMPORTED GOODS

• chemicals, fuels, metals, rare earths, electronics, agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals (2021)

RESERVES OF GOLD AND FOREIGN CURRENCY

• $70.16 billion (2021 est.)

ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

• 90.20 TWh (2020 est.)

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FROM RENEWABLE ENERGIES

• 45.19 TWh (50.1%) (2020 est.)

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

• 76.56 TWh (2020 est.)

TRANSPORTATION
ROADWAYS

• 133,515 km (82,962 mi) paved of 133,515 km (82,962 mi) total; including 5,544 km (3,444 mi) of motorways (2020)
  ☞ no speed limit on motorways (autobahn)

WATERWAYS

• 536 km (333 mi) navigable
• Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea

RAILWAYS

• 4,507 km (2,800 mi) electrified of 6,010 km (3,734 mi) total (2020)

AIRPORTS

• international airports: 2 (MUC, NUE)
• transregional airports: 2 (FMM, OBF)
• airfields with paved runways: 28 (2020)

AIR TRANSPORT

• registered air carriers: 9 with 139 aircraft
• civil aircraft registration prefix: BV
  ☞ BV-AAAA to BV-ZZZZ reserved for commercial air-travel, BV-0001 to BV-9999 for state-owned (non-combatant) aircraft; BV-XZ01 to BV-XZ99 for test aircraft; BV-ZA01 to BV-ZA99 for non-profit organisations; BV-C01AA to BV-C99ZZ for general aviation

ECONOMIC ISSUES

• excess supply of employment due to demographic change
• heavy reliance on imported gas and oil
• economic impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
• economic impact of sanctions against Russia
• public debt has increased by 94% since 2011 due to costs associated with the secession and geopolitical challenges

Military

OVERVIEW

• amongst the first public institutions established, the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria (AKB) is responsible for "the defence of Bavaria and her allies in compliance with international law", the "protection of world peace and free trade" and "providing humanitarian aid" (VKB Sec. 87)
• absorbed some Federal German units previously stationed in Bavaria, e.g. 74th Tactical Air Wing at Neuburg Air Base
• the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle requires the Kingdom of Bavaria to commit 1 mechanised division and other forces to the defence of the Confederacy; if under attack, Bavaria's forces form the bilateral Confederate Defence Forces with the Federal Republic of Germany
• Bavaria's defence industry complex – comprising e.g. tank builder KMW, aircraft manufacturer Airbus, sensor technology specialist Hensoldt et.al. – is capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air and land military weapons systems
• foreign suppliers include France, United States, Italy, Czechia, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Israel

INSIGNIA

• The Black Cross – associated with Germanic lands since the Middle Ages – continues to be used by the German States, their militaries and joint defence force to identify military aircraft. Checkerboards in the respective state's national colours are placed underneath the cross as a means of differentiation. Subdued markings may be used on some combat aircraft.

EXPENDITURES

• 4.10% of GDP (2022 forecast)
• 1.82% of GDP (2021)
• 2.10% of GDP (2020)
• 2.55% of GDP (2019)
• 2.00% of GDP (2018)

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

• H.M. SOPHIE as reigning monarch (de facto exercised by the Minister of Defence)
• Frank-Walter STEINMEIER, as President of the Council of Germany (if the Confederacy is under attack)

BRANCHES

• Landstreitkräfte der Armee des Königreichs Bayern (Land Forces of the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria)
  ☞ organised as a mechanised infantry division with 3 armoured infantry brigades and organic support
• Luftstreitkräfte der Armee des Königreichs Bayern (Air Forces of the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria)
  ☞ consists of 2 tactical air wings, 2 air mobility wings, 1 airborne regiment and 1 air defence regiment
• Königlich Bayerische Landwehr (Royal Bavarian Home Guard)
  ☞ Guardsmen rotate through battalions organised on a provincial level, providing training to and being trained by the regulars, and may be called upon to provide regional security or disaster relief; each provincial command is superordinate to a variety of units depending on its terrain and population density
• Königlich Bayerisches Gendarmeriekorps (Royal Bavarian Constabulary)
  ☞ answering to the civil Ministry of State during peace time, the Constabulary assumes tasks of both a military police and civilian law enforcement agency with specialised capabilities and jurisdiction in rural municipalities

HEADQUARTERS

• Munich (Ministy of Defence)
• Nuremberg (headquarters of the Royal Bavarian Home Guard)

ORDER OF BATTLE (2022)

MILITARY SERVICE AGE

• 18-48 years of age (enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers, junior officers)
• 18-66 years of age (staff officers, flag officers)

SERVICE OBLIGATION

• both sexes must register for compulsory service
• right to conscientious objection; alternative service opportunities exist within the Königlich Bayerischer Zivilschutz (Royal Bavarian Civil Defence Corps) and volunteer fire departments
• conscripts serve 11 months initially and 3 quadrennial 10-day refresher periods; volunteers can join the Home Guard and are recalled for at least 2 weeks of service each year
• selective conscription: unless a "state of tension" (VKB Sec. 90a) is declared, only the most able-bodied and motivated conscripts are drafted

MANPOWER
STRENGTH

• active: 46,485 troops (2022)
  ☞ includes 23,000 conscripts, 18,090 career soldiers, 5,395 constables
  ☞ to be raised to 25,000 conscripts, 22,000 career soldiers, 6,100 constables
• reserve: 40,220 troops (2022)
  ☞ to be raised to 120,000; includes 28,333 guardsmen
• civilian employees: 13,115 (2022)

REGENERATION CAPABILITY

• available for military service: 5,433,100, both sexes
• fit for military service: 4,309,225, both sexes
• annually reaching military age: 148,110, both sexes (2021 est.)

DEPLOYMENTS

• Central African Republic (MINUSCA): 1,090 troops (2022)

MILITARY ISSUES

• considerable demands posed by build-up efforts to assume the responsibilities outlined by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
• restrictive military spending in Germany post 1990 led to an investment bottleneck throughout the Confederacy's armed services that is amplified by reform requirements in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
• opponents of the 2010 referendum allege that the draft is used to instil subservience to the budging state into the nation's youth

[pMASTER]

APPENDIX A: HOLDINGS OF THE ARMY OF THE KINGDOM OF BAVARIA

• for land systems and personal equipment items, the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria uses a catalogue system based on the year of adoption (e.g. Kampfpanzer 11, i.e. main battle tank[, introduced 20]11)
• aircraft receive designations based on a role-describing prefix and sequential number (e.g. JS 2 ⇒ Jäger/Schulflugzeug 2, i.e. fighter-conversion trainer no. 2)
• oftentimes, pieces of equipment are given official monikers – usually derived from the manufacturer's own designation – for differentiation and brevity (e.g. Kampfpanzer 11 'Leopard')
• variants are differentiated by a suffix character

PERSONAL WEAPONS

Ranging from his trusty service rifle to shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles, a soldier's trade requires a versatile set of weapons.



The Austrian-made Glock is an iconic series of polymer-framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols. Light, reliable and easy to operate, this revolutionary design has been adopted by the law enforcement agencies and militaries of some 50 nations. Its latest iteration – the full-size Glock 17 Gen5 – has been selected by the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria as its new standard sidearm and given the designation of Pistole 20A. All troops will be equipped with this firearm for self-defence, those on the front-line also as backup should they find their primary weapon rendered inoperable.

The Glock 17 is joined in Bavaria's armoury by the slightly smaller Glock 46, a derivative specifically designed to meet the strict safety requirements of the Upper Saxony State Police. Unlike previous Glock models, this pistol features a rotating barrel and decocking system. True to this more civilian-minded design philosophy, the weapon is issued (as Pistole 20B) to officers of the Royal Bavarian Constabulary. All Glocks in Bavarian usage sport customisable grips, barrels with polygonal rifling and an improved crown for increased accuracy.



Although often classified as a submachine gun, Heckler & Koch's HK MP7 actually falls into the exotic category of personal defence weapons. The MP7 is a very compact select-fire self-loading weapon using the 4.6×30 mm intermediate cartridge. It was developed to accord non-combat troops or soldiers operating in confined spaces (e.g. tank crew members) with the firepower of an assault rifle while not exceeding the dimensions of a submachine gun. It can even be fired with one hand if need be. The AKB has adopted the HK MP7 as Maschinenpistole 16. Aside from the aforementioned roles, MP7's are part of the standard equipment of every Royal Bavarian Constabulary patrol car.



The BREN 2 is a modular 5.56×45 mm select-fire self-loading rifle by Czech gun manufacturer ČZ. It uses a short-stroke gas piston and rotating breech block, comes in various barrel lengths and features a telescopic stock as well as ambidextrous controls for optimal ergonomics. Bavaria's armed services issue a full-size variant of this accurate and reliable weapon as their general service rifle under the designation of Maschinenkarabiner 16 (machine carbine). Moreover, every rifle section is given additional firepower in the shape of ČZ's 805 G1 dedicated 40×46 mm under-barrel grenade launcher (Anbaugranatwerfer 16).



ČZ's BREN 2 BR is the battle rifle-cousin of the baseline assault rifle. With its more potent calibre and longer heavy-duty barrel, it complements the weapon mix of the infantry by offering increased effective range, greater accuracy and stopping power. The Bavarian military has introduced this Czech rifle under the designation of Präzisionsselbstlader 17 (precision self-loading rifle). Equipped with optical gunsights and accessoiries like a bipod, it is commonly issued to the best marksman of each rifle section. Sentries and sniper-spotters alike also rely on this weapon.



The MG5 by Heckler & Koch is the standard-issue general purpose machine gun of Bavaria's armed forces, having entered service as Maschinengewehr 20. It can be carried by foot soldiers as a light machine gun or be deployed on a tripod in the sustained fire role for ranges of up to 1,800 m. Additionally, the MG5 arms most AKB vehicles and helicopters. It is a gas-operated weapon chambered in 7.62×51 mm, fires from an open bolt and features ambidextrous controls as well as a loaded chamber indicator. Designed as a replacement of the venerable MG3, it has a slower rate of fire than its predecessor but offers much greater accuracy.

UTILITY VEHICLES (WHEELED)

A Bavarian proverb says: Ohne Mampf kein Kampf – you cannot fight on an empty belly. Keeping Bavaria's armed services operational requires vast amounts of fuel, ammunition and food. A fleet of durable and powerful utility vehicles is called upon to provide these essential logistics services whereever they may be needed.



The G-Class is a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle with three fully locking differentials produced by legendary German car maker Mercedes-Benz. Half luxury automobile half no-nonsense workhorse, it is perhaps the only automobile at home on the red carpet as well as on the battlefield. The reliability and versatility of the boxy-looking G-Class is highlighted by its largely unchanged fourty-year production run and unbroken popularity with operators not known for parting easily with their money: the armed forces of over a dozen nations. Fielding some 1,100 vehicles in numerous variants as Lastwagen 16, Bavaria's military uses the G 300 CDI under its original military moniker: 'Wolf'.



The T 810 is a six-wheel drive medium logistics truck designed by Tatra for the Czech Army. Deviating from the usual design philosophy of that storied Moravian truck builder, it features rigid portal axles and a ladder frame instead of independently swinging half-axles. This highly mobile vehicle is capable of carrying 16 troops or cargoes and superstructures weighing up to 5,100 kgs (11,250 lbs). In order to increase crew survivability, its cab floor offers protection from anti-personnel mines and hand grenades. The Bavarian designation for the T 810 is Lastwagen 16 'Lama'. The purchase of 812 "llamas" by Bavaria has also been seen as a diplomatic overture towards the Visegrád Group.

ENGINEERING VEHICLES

Engineers provide mobility to friendly forces while limiting movements of the enemy. Their vehicle park ranges from common excavators to highly specialised apparatuses designed to bridge rivers, clear mine fields or recover equipment under hostile fire. With their aid, engineers can also make valuable contributions to disaster relief operations.



The Amphibie M3 by Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern (now a part of General Dynamics European Land Systems) is the most modern, efficient and fastest-to-deploy amphibious rig in the world. M3 rigs can operate either as ferries or be conjoined to rapidly form a bridge with the ability to carry loads as heavy as a main battle tank. River crossings 100 metres in length can be achieved with as few as 8 vehicles and in under 20 minutes. Operators of the M3 include Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan. The Bavarians use 32 units under the designation of Übersetzfahrzeug (ferrying vehicle) 13 'Salamander'.

PROTECTED VEHICLES (WHEELED)

The protected vehicle as we know it was first developed in South Africa during the Border War. Some fourty years later, they have become a mainstay for militaries across the globe. Designed to shield their occupants from threats often associated with conflicts of low intensity, they must be able to withstand small arms fire, artillery fragmentation, land mines and improvised roadside bombs.



The Light Armoured Patrol Vehicle 5.4 is a variant of the Mercedes-Benz G 300 CDI produced by Armoured Car Systems of Bavaria. Originally designed for the German Army and now serving with a number of European militaries and police forces, this combat-proven vehicle offers protection from small arms fire and light anti-tank mines. It is usually armed with a pintle-mounted machine gun. Due to its smaller dimensions and less intimidating profile, the LAPV 5.4 is ideal for patrolling, liaison or mentoring roles. 142 vehicles are fielded by the AKB under the designation of Allschutzfahrzeug 16 (multi-threat protected vehicle), which shares the 'Wolf' moniker with its more unassuming cousin.



Allschutzfahrzeug 17 'Ratel' (honey badger) is the designation given by the Bavarians to Iveco's LMV 2. Combat-proven and highly agile, this multi-purpose tactical vehicle is capable of carrying a complement of 5 troops or payloads in excess of 2,500 kgs (5,500 lbs). LMV 2 can be adapted to meet the predicted threat level with a dedicated add-on armour kit. Fully armoured, it provides protection up to STANAG 4569 Level III, making it a remarkably stalwart platform for its size. Bavaria has purchased some 500 "honey badgers" in a wide variety of configurations: infantry mobility, logistics, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, battlefield control and liaison duties.



Designed by then-German tank builder KMW, the Fennek is a scout car built for the armies of the Netherlands and Germany. In Bavaria, it is known as the Spähwagen 11 'Fennek'. Its low profile, quiet engine and retractable mast-mounted sensors allow the monitoring of the enemy from the safety of concealment. In Afghanistan, the "fennec" proved its indispensability to field commanders as well as its ability to withstand threats even in excess of its design limits. The Bavarian military owns 114 vehicles, including stocks inherited from the Federal Republic of Germany. They equip target acquisition batteries, field reconnaissance squadrons and tactical air control parties.



KMW's Dingo 2 A3 is the quintessential mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, ending its tenure in Afghanistan with the lowest number of casualties sustained per allied vehicle attacked. It is capable of withstanding sustained small arms fire with armour-piercing rounds, anti-tank mines and roadside bombs. Once developed for Germany's peace-keeping efforts in mine-infested Bosnia, this derivative of the legendary Unimog has since been purchased by eight armies and spawned a family of subvariants. Bavaria operates the 'Dingo' as Allschutzfahrzeug 13, owning 444 units – including tactical vehicles, mobile command posts and NBC reconnaissance platforms.

ARMOURED VEHICLES (WHEELED)

Armoured vehicles are generally characteristed by their being designed to offer protection from front-line weapon systems in the thick of battle. Unlike mere protected vehicles – which exist primarily to save their occupants' lives in the event of a hit –, armoured vehicles must be able to soldier on and take the fight to the enemy.



The Fuchs 1 A9 (or Mehrzweckpanzerwagen 14 'Fuchs', i.e. multi-role armoured vehicle) is the latest version of a versatile armoured personnel carrier for up to ten occupants that has served the Germans and their NATO allies well since 1979. It has spawned no less then 40 variants, although the NBC reconnaissance variant is the most widely known. The A9 upgrade incorporates "lessons learned" from the War in Afghanistan and offers protection from explosive threats and armour-piercing rounds up to 7.62×67 mm in calibre. The 358 "foxes" operated by Bavaria's military are a particularly common sight in its target acquisition and electronic warfare units.



The Boxer is an armoured fighting vehicle built by Rheinmetall and KMW for the Dutch and German armies, and also in service with Algeria, Australia, Great Britain and Lithuania. This truly dogged vehicle offers protection from armour-piercing rounds of calibres up to 14.5×111 mm and can withstand centre-mass mine detonations. Its key feature, however, is the operator's ability to integrate a variety of mission modules into the chassis, offering both greater affordability through synergetic effects as well as increased ease of maintenance. By 2027, the AKB plans to operate a total of 578 of these formidable vehicles (which are called Mehrzweckpanzerwagen 14 'Boxer' in its service). They are used in a variety of roles, e.g. as infantry fighting vehicles, mobile command posts, battlefield ambulances or self-propelled mortars.

ARMOURED VEHICLES (TRACKED)

If the infantry is a modern army's spear, then its fleet of tracked armoured fighting vehicles must be considered the hammer. Main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled artillery provide overwhelming firepower whilst protecting their crews from battlefield hazards. Where tracked AFVs cannot go, none can.



A joint venture of KMW and Rheinmetall for the German Army, the Puma infantry fighting vehicle (or Schützenpanzerwagen 21 'Puma' in Bavaria) is many things at once: It's the product of a long and troubled development history. At a unit cost of nearly $20 million, it's the most expensive armoured fighting vehicle ever built. But most importantly, Puma is the most advanced vehicle of its class. Its sensor suite gives its crew of nine seamless 360-degree situational awareness, including at night or whilst dismounted, and its fire control system is even capable of semi-autonomously engaging aerial threats from large helicopters all the way down to small loitering munitions.

Puma is heavily armed with an automatic cannon, anti-tank guided missiles, a machine gun and a close-in defence system against hostile infantry approaching from the rear. A scalable combination of reactive and composite armour offers protection in excess of STANAG 4569 Level VI, and is in turn complemented by a soft kill active protection system against incoming missiles. The vehicle's power pack produces 1,090 hp out of a mere 11.1 litres of displacement, providing more than enough speed and agility to keep up with the Leopard 2 main battle tank over the most difficult terrain. The AKB has equipped six armoured infantry battalions with a total of 282 Pumas.

TRAINER AIRCRAFT (FIXED-WING)

Even in the age of advanced simulators, real aircraft remain an indispensable tool to prepare future aircrew and ground personnel for their challenging roles in aerial warfare. Types ranging from elementary trainers with forgiving characteristics all the way up to combat-capable fast jet trainers guide the student from introductory lessons to his/her front-line aircraft.



Grob's G 120TP is a modern trainer aircraft with a powerful turboprop engine, digital avionics and a glass cockpit. Ideally simple to master, yet also sufficiently demanding to provide a high-quality training experience, the G 120TP features side-by-side seating. This configuration allows student and instructor to observe each other's actions, ensuring a steep learning curve and added flight safety. At the same time, the composite airframe's g-Limits of +6/-4 leave ample room for aerobatic flight manoeuvres. The Air Forces of the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria acquired 12 G 120TP's. In their service, this Bavarian-built aeroplane is known as 'Ortolan' S2.



The Austrian-made Diamond DA42 is a general aviation aircraft of an all-composite design featuring proprietary diesel piston engines and a glass cockpit. It offers a maximum speed of 365 kph and carries four personnel over a distance of 2,250 km (1,215 mi). A popular provider of multi-engine flying training in pilot schools the world over, the DA42 also assumes that very role for the air arm of the AKB. In addition, it fulfils an important secondary function – that of a liaison aircraft for functionaries of the armed services. The 3 Bavarian aircraft received the designation of 'Bekassine' SV1 (snipe).



Switzerland's Pilatus PC-21 is a state-of-the-art advanced military trainer aircraft. With tandem seating and jet-like handling (685 kph, +8/-4 g), it serves to familiarise student pilots with their future work environment. Its simulation suite is capable not only of generating simulated air-to-air targets and scoring against the release of simulated air-to-ground ordnance; the aircraft can also mimick the cockpit configuration of front-line fighter jets. These features ease the transitioning of the student to operational conversion units and help cutting down costs by eliminating the need for a sizable fleet of jet trainers. Bavaria operates 12 PC-21's under the designation of 'Milan' S2 (red kite).



The L-159 marks the latest entry in the history of the L-39/59 series of jet trainers by Aero of Czechia, famed for their agility and ease of operating. Though developed as a single-seat light attack aircraft, the L-159 continues its family’s legacy with a two-seat trainer incarnation. The L-159B is a combat-capable subsonic trainer aircraft with a simulation suite able to emulate modern aerial warfare threats as well as many functions of a 4.5 generation jet fighter. The Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria uses 6 of these aircraft to the put the last touches to its new jet pilots, who know them by the handle of 'Tornado' SA2.

COMBAT AIRCRAFT (FIXED-WING)

The Air Forces of the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria protect the airspace of the nation, the Confederacy as a whole and of NATO. The service maintains a fleet of high-perfomance multi-role fighter jets capable of handling all aspects of modern warfare, including air policing, peace enforcement and high-intensity conflicts against peer adversaries. Another important role lies in providing close air support and armed overwatch for friendly ground troops.



Czechia's Aero L-159A is a light attack aircraft with a rich operational history that ranges from fighting Islamic State terrorists in Iraq to providing training for NATO pilots. Its Grifo L radar, native defensive aid suite and width of weaponry give it full combat capability. Bavaria has purchased 16 aircraft under the alias of 'Tornado' A1 as a cost-efficient supplement to its Typhoon swing-role fighter jets. The delivery of close air support is the 'Tornado's' primary mission; other tasks include reconnaissance and electronic warfare sorties. It even assumes an air policing role when subsonic speeds suffice to protect the airspace of Bavaria and her allies.




The Eurofighter Typhoon has come a long way since its inception during the Cold War's twilight years. Once devised as an interceptor to defend its European makers from the USSR's superb MiGs and Sukhois, it has since matured into a potent swing-role fighter jet. The aircraft owes its extreme agility to its powerful engines and inherent aerodynamic instability, allowing top speeds above Mach 2.35 and g-Limits of +9/-3 while armed. It has a maximum payload of 9,000 kgs (19,800 lbs) and range of 1,390 km (863 mi). Although not a "stealth fighter", it does have a reduced radar cross-section, and its cockpit responds to customisable voice input in order to lower the pilot's workload.

In conjunction with Typhoon's Captor-E radar and PIRATE infrared search-and-track sensor, these properties produce a platform well-suited to the full spectrum of air operations and, arguably, the world's premier 4.5 generation fighter. The Kingdom of Bavaria inherited 18 single-seat Typhoons from Germany and acquired another 12 over the years. Brought to the Tranche 4 standard, they are poised to form the mainstay of the AKB's air arm for decades to come. The service also owns 6 twin-seat aircraft with dual controls. While they retain a full combat capability, they mainly serve as conversion trainers. The aircraft were introduced as 'Taifun' J1 and 'Taifun' JS2, respectively.



Although inducted into Bavarian service as the 'Taifun' RA1, this first derivative of the Eurofighter Typhoon might reasonably lay claim to the nickname "Wild Weasel". With the Typhoon ECR, Airbus and Hensoldt respond to a requirement of the German Luftwaffe to replace their ageing Tornado ECR electronic attack aircraft. A crucial asset to increase the survivability of friendly air forces in hostile skies, it is designed to expose itself to the enemy's air defences, pin-point their locations and destroy them with precision weapons. Meanwhile, its jammers protect the aircraft as well as others nearby from enemy ground fire. Bavaria has agreed to contribute 6 RA1 to a bilateral squadron.

ISTAR AIRCRAFT (FIXED-WING)

'ISTAR' is military shorthand for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. Units dedicated to this task survey hostile activities and communications in order to derive intelligence for military and political decision-makers. The air arm of Bavaria's armed forces owns a number of specialised ISTAR aircraft with advanced sensors, ranging from small patrol aircraft to airborne command centres.



MPP Guardian is a surveillance platform derived by Austrian planemaker Diamond from its successful DA42. Highly modular and with up to 8 hours of endurance, it has been a global bestseller with customers as diverse as the Argentine Army or Russia's FSB intelligence service. The 'Bekassine' RV1 – as it is handle in Bavarian service – features a satellite uplink radome and a holistic ISTAR suite courtesy of Hensoldt: a ground surveillance radar, an electro-optical/infrared imaging system, and a radio direction finding sensor. Apart from their military role, the 2 aircraft also render aid to the civil power, serving in border protection duties and even as airborne wildfire lookouts during the summer months.

FIXED-WING TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT

Even though Bavaria is no vast country, transport aircraft remain the go-to method to swiftly deliver logistic effect or airborne troops across her territory. Naturally, they also serve to connect Bavaria with her allies in Germany and abroad, and they play a vital role in supplying overseas deployments. Furthermore, the AKB possesses the capability to refuel most of its aircraft in-flight.



D328eco is the moniker given to the second iteration of the Dornier 328 regional airliner. Deutsche Aircraft announced the D328eco in 2018 as a more ecological replacement for older Dorniers and other commuter aircraft. Initial operational capability is to be reached in 2024. Despite external similarities, the D328eco is in fact a new, larger aircraft with more advanced engines and arrangements for a wide range of commercial, parapublic and military missions. Carrying 43 passengers or 6 patients and their associated medical personnel over distances of up to 2,000 km (1,080 nmi), it is certified for single-pilot operations and semi-prepared airstrips. The 4 aircraft slated to enter Bavarian service are equipped with a countermeasures suite and named after the heron: 'Reiher' T1.



The Airbus A400M Atlas – or 'Kondor' T1 (condor) in Bavarian service – is a military transport aircraft providing both tactical and strategic air mobility. It can carry a 37-tonne playload to unprepared airstrips or deliver up to 116 paratroopers to a tactical landing zone. Aerial refuelling gives it intercontinental reach. If equipped with under-wing fuel dispensers, the "condor" can refuel all fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft adapted for probe-and-drogue refuelling. The AKB took over 3 aircraft from Germany; together with 10 German A400M's (and personnel from Hungary), they form the European Air Transport Command's Multinational Air Transport Unit at Lechfeld Air Base.

AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY AND EQUIPMENT

Even the most advanced fighter aircraft is helpless if it arrives on the modern battlefield without an array of powerful weapons and advanced sensors. The arsenal of the Air Forces of the Army of the Kingdom of Bavaria is tailored to achieving superiority in the air and providing anti-access/area denial capabilities to friendly forces.



REMOTELY PILOTED AERIAL VEHICLES

Since the dawn of the new millenium, so-called drones have quickly become a staple of military arsenals all over the world. They have even begun to replace manned aircraft in certain roles, particularly as airborne long-range reconnaissance assets for battlefield surveillance and target acquisition. As such, they offer ground commanders and political leaders a valuable intelligence product with the need to put a pilot's life at risk.



Inducted into Bavarian service as the 'Rabe' R1 (raven), Helios is the latest stage of evolution of the Grob G 520 surveillance aircraft built by the West Germans in the dying days of the Cold War. After a short stint in the service of science, the G 520 programme was revived in 2010 to be developed into a high-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance drone. Bavaria's 9 "ravens" carry a payload of 1,145 kgs (2,525 lbs) to heights of 16,300 m (53,475 ft) and offer a loitering time of a good 32 hours. Their payload includes an active electronically scanned array multi-mode surveillance radar, signal intelligence sensors and optical surveillance devices.

APPENDIX B: PUBLIC SAFETY

KÖNIGLICH BAYERISCHER ZIVILSCHUTZ

The Royal Bavarian Civil Defence Corps is a Bavarian governmental agency under the auspices of the Ministry of State. Created in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Civil Relief Agency to provide technical assistance and humanitarian relief in times of emergency and natural disasters, its first test came in 2022 when the Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered a mass exodus of refugees from that country. Under the impression of Russia's aggression, the agency was renamed and shifted in focus to incorporate traditional civil defence tasks. It is expected to grow to 11,000 volunteers and 3,000 full-time employees by 2030.

UTILITY VEHICLES (WHEELED)



APPENDIX C: CIVIL AVIATION OF BAVARIA

TRANSALPINE

Transalpine is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bavaria. Founded in the 1970's in West Germany as a charter airline for holiday makers and guest workers from Yugoslavia, the airline led a shadowy existence with an ageing fleet until the Bavarian secession. Munich's becoming a shareholder has made a rejuvenation plan possible that – though somewhat delayed by the 2020 aviation crisis – will see the replacing of Transalpine's second-hand fleet (7 Boeing 757-200, 3 Boeing 717-200 and 3 DHC-8-400) with 15 brand-new Airbus A320neo family aircraft. All aircraft are named after Bavarian mountains. In 2022, Transalpine served 31 destinations in Central Europe and the Mediterranean region.



The youngest member of the "Mad Dog" family of short-haul airliners, the B717 is a stepchild of Boeing's brought into their marriage by the erstwhile McDonnell Douglas company. The aircraft, which carries 134 passengers over a distance of 2,645 km (1,428 nmi), was a flop at its time and production ceased in 2005. In a twist of irony, however, the B717 quickly became a heavily sought-after commodity, with second-hand and even third-hand models acquired by airlines like Delta and Qantas for near-original prices. The B717 is economical in its market niche and has a perfect safety record. Transalpine acquired its 3 -200's from Spanish airline Volotea.

FRANCONIAN FRACHTFLUGGESELLSCHAFT

FRANCONIAN is the only airfreight carrier of Bavaria. Established in 1987 as Fränkischer Kurbäderflugdienst (Franconian Spa Town Air Shuttle) to link Nuremberg with alpine luxury resorts, the company reinvented itself over time as a dedicated cargo airline with the aid of American military contracts. Increased airfreight demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted the company into the league of Europe's biggest cargo airlines. In 2022, Franconian operated 5 McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, 3 Saab 340F and 1 BAe 146-300F. All aircraft are named after Bavarian cities.



The BAe 146 is a short-haul airliner and regional jet manufactured by British Aerospace between 1983 and 2001. It is very quiet in operation and offers an excellent climb performance, rendering it the ideal platform to serve city-based airports with stricter noise emission regulations and/or shorter runways. Depending on configuration, the BAe 146 carries up to 112 passengers or cargoes of up to 11.7 tonnes at a top speed of 789 kph. The more cost-intensive four-engine configuration of the type has led to its being pulled from passenger service in recent years, but many BAe 146’s continue to serve as freighters or in aerial firefighting.

FRANCONIAN operated a surplus BAe 146-300 (BV-AAGE) as a transport for perishables on the London-Munich route between 2008 and 2019. The pandemic won the briefly-retired aircraft a new lease on life; it has distributed protective equipment and vaccines in Central Europe ever since. In April 2020, Franconian revealed the "Lifeliner by Franconian" livery to raise awareness for the plight of health workers and their families affected by the pandemic. The carrier vowed to donate 2.020% of each flight's revenue to self-help groups organised by the nursing community. Their campaign netted more than Ƒ900,000.

[pMASTER]

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Walls of text can by tiring, so I elected to provide the information I gathered as bullet points in a – hopefully – easily digestible format. This will also allow you to skip past those parts you don't deem interesting. The following lines do naught but provide some additional information and details on my thought process.

When you think Lederhosen and Oktoberfest, you're thinking of Germany – though you ought to be thinking of Bavaria. An ancient cultural chasm marked by considerable (including linguistic and religious) differences yawns between the Prussian Germans and their Bavarian brethren. More than once did both banks of the River Main make war against each other, and oftentimes Bavaria even allied herself with Germany's "mortal enemy" France (wherefore she received the crown out of Napoleon's hands).

Even today, Bavarians are sometimes regarded as Germany's "rednecks" – whilst many an old Bavarian can still be heard mumbling: "Saupreiss!" (prussian pig) when a Northerner walks by. Northern taunts over Bavarian quirks ('Nevermind, in Bavaria they do things differently!') are usually met with ostentatious pride in Bavaria's poorhouse-to-powerhouse success story.

But although a strong Bavarian regionalism exists, it is probably best-likened to the relationship between Texas and the United States: Secessionist sentiments are toyed with but never go anywhere. The pro-independence Bayernpartei never really moved the needle; and although a sizable royalist movement does actually exist it is driven by romanticism rather than politics.

This presented me with somewhat of a problem. I wanted to create an utterly realistic AU, so I had to make concessions to reality some might perceive as odd.

Because a definitive split between Bavaria and Germany seems unthinkable and would be fraught with risk for both sides (export-reliant Bavaria would lose her access to the ocean, for instance), I elected to come up with a loose confederacy modelled after short-lived Serbia and Montenegro and the Russian-Belarussian Union State. In my mind, such a solution would keep the economic rift as small as possible but succeed in pleasing secessionist sentiments.

The highly-criticised Interstate Equalisation Payments Pact does actually exist, and the economic imbalance it is meant to negate has actually resulted in plans to restructure the territory of modern-day Germany. It also true that the Bavarian tax payer bore the brunt of Germany's part of the burden of saving the reeling Southern European Economies in 2009. Both developments disgruntled many Bavarians and since their state is seen as somewhat right-wing (perhaps rightly so), those years struck me as the most likely spark to cause a falling-out.

Other concessions mainly revolve around perceived probabilities, i.e. the question: What would fly today? I mean this in both a material and non-material sense. "Alternative universe" or not, I tried to avoid building castles in the clouds e.g. through designing unattainably large armed forces or coming up with a fictive colonial empire. I also took into consideration social changes (such as by assuming the adoption of absolute primogeniture if the monarchy were reinstated in the 2010's).

Please note pretty much all data given above is grounded in reality or on credible forecasts; most notably, I drew on the fittingly named nonfiction book 'Bayern kann es auch allein' ('Bavaria doesn't need Germany') by late Bavarian politician W. Scharnagl, and the 2016 study 'Zwangsjacke Föderalismus?' ('Federalism - a straitjacket?') by the University of Heidelberg on the potential economic impact of a German breakup.

As you might've guessed already, the perspective of this AU is the near future, around 2022 in fact.

As for the drawings; like many I began with redrawings of existing works but tried to add a personal flavour. I hope the original authors like them and feel I didn't disrespect their efforts. Many drawings I updated a little (especially where better blueprints had become available in the meantime), and I tried to give something back by drawing (as far as I know) new variants of existing vehicles and aircraft.

By now I already have much original content in the pipeline. I will continually expand the holdings of the Aʀᴍʏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Kɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏꜰ Bᴀᴠᴀʀɪᴀ and also work on the inventory of Bavaria's fictitious airlines. Bavaria being a landlocked country, you're obviously not going to find any naval vessels around here. Considering the length of arms procurement programmes, a high percentage of fictitious equipment would probably hurt plausibility; that's why I'll only sprinkle in a little bit of that every here and there.

Since I'm one of those people who're never fully happy with what they do, you had best expect frequent changes and re-uploads. So… let's get this show on the road!

STATUS UPDATE #001

• Mercedes-Benz & ACS LAPV 5.4
• KMW Dingo 2 A3
• KMW GFF 4 Grizzly

[pMASTER]

STATUS UPDATE #002

• KMW Boxer

[pMASTER]

STATUS UPDATE #003

• KMW Fennek

[pMASTER]

STATUS UPDATE #004

• Applied the fixes suggested by @charguizard. Thanks again!

[TJW]

Congratulations. This looks really interesting. Great start. I'm looking forward to seeing some more. I really like the more realistic AUs.

[pMASTER]

Thank you very much!

[pMASTER]

STATUS UPDATE #005

• Mercedes-Benz G 300 CDI (a.k.a. Wolf)

[pMASTER]

STATUS UPDATE #006

• Tatra T 810
• Iveco LMV 2

That's it for now; I need to return to work.