Multinational Division Central
To October 25, 2002 (except Appeal Serves position )
Germany Germany Netherlands The Netherlands Belgium
The Multinational Division Central MND (C ), was a multinational division of NATO in Central Europe and had its headquarters in JHQ Rheindahlen in Mönchengladbach.
The concept of this first true multinational division between NATO and the four participating nations Belgium, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands dated back to the Cold War. The airmobile MND (C ) should support the Northern Army Group Central Europe ( NORTHAG ) as a reserve unit. From 1 April 1994, the operational readiness of MND (C).
The division staff consisted of 50 officers, 54 NCOs and the teams. The headquarters company initially comprised 154 soldiers from Germany. First commander was Major-General Pieter Huysman from the Netherlands.
Until the full activation of the division every nation should provide a paratrooper or airborne brigade, combat support units and supply units.
Fully jointed they had four brigades of the four participating nations to:
- The Belgian Para- Commando Brigade ( Evers mountain )
- German Airborne Brigade 31 (Oldenburg )
- The British 24th Airmobile Brigade (Colchester ) from 1999, the 16 Air Assault Brigade and
- Dutch 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade ( Schaarsbergen )
The MND -C was associated with a nominal thickness of 20 000 soldiers ( including 5,600 Bundeswehr soldiers ) of the most important multinational, stationed in Europe Eingreifverband (Rapid Reaction Forces) with the possibility of global military interventions. The division would have been the larger task force Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps ( ARRC ) was assumed when needed.
As Answer Forces Able to WEU ( FAWEU ) it was possible to mobilize the MND (C ) for military operations on behalf of the Western European Union ( WEU).
Since NATO is increasingly oriented towards other emergency responders (High Readiness Force ( Land) ), the headquarters of MND (C ) was dissolved on 25 October 2002. Last commander was Major General Marc Jacqmin.