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There were originally two types of soldiers serving in the Bundeswehr (Federal Defence): regular units and conscripts. Consequently, there were also two types of oaths. Conscripts recited a pledge, since their service was compulsory and not unconditionally voluntary. Regular soldiers recited an oath in its true sense.
Conscript's pledge:
Translation:
Conscripts are allowed to decline taking the pledge, but this forfeits any chance of promotion during service. This refusal does not constitute conscientious objection to military service, since German conscripts are also allowed to render alternative social service in its place.
Oath for other enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers and officers serving for at least two years (Soldiers For a Time) or for lifetime (professional soldiers):
Translation:
The religious adjunct used with the oath was optional, the replacing of "ich gelobe" (I pledge) with "ich schwöre" (I swear) was not.
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The Bundeswehr is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Bundeswehr is divided into a military part and a civil part, the military part consisting of the German Army, the German Navy, the German Air Force, the Joint Support Service, the Joint Medical Service, and the Cyber and Information Domain Service.
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Johann Georg August Wirth was a German lawyer, writer and politician during the Vormärz period that preceded the German revolutions of 1848–1849.
Various organisations in Nazi Germany required their members to swear oaths to Adolf Hitler by name, rather than to the German state or an officeholder. Such oaths were intended to increase personal loyalty to Hitler and prevent dissent. The Hitler oath, introduced for all members of the Wehrmacht and civil servants in 1934, was one such oath. Others were sworn by members of organisations such as the Schutzstaffel (SS), whose oath may have inspired the Hitler oath, and by the Hitler Youth.
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