Dieter Stöckmann

Dieter Stockmann ( born July 29, 1941 in Stolp, Pomerania ) is a retired general of the Army of the Bundeswehr.

From 1996 on, he served two years as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Central Europe NATO and took over on 1 April 1998 the post of Chief of Staff at NATO Headquarters Europe ( SHAPE) in Belgium. From 17 September 2001 to his retirement a year later he was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander used as Europe under Joseph W. Ralston. After his retirement, he led bilateral security talks on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Military career

Stöckmanns family moved in 1945 after the end of World War II from the Pomeranian Stolp in the North Frisian Jever to. He made there High School in 1961 and joined then as an officer cadet in the service of the Armed Forces and became the Infantry Battalion 41 in Göttingen added. After officer training, he served from 1963 to 1972 as a platoon leader, staff and operations officer and company commander in various armored infantry battalions.

From 1972 to 1974, he then completed the 15th General Staff Course at the Staff College in Hamburg, and then served in the Army Office in Cologne and was responsible for the training of planning officers and NCOs. Between 1976 and 1978 he completed the General Staff Course at the Netherlands Military Academy in The Hague. After his return to Germany, he took over from 1978 to 1980 the post of operation officer (G3 ) in the General Staff of the Panzergrenadier Brigade 1 in Hildesheim, to then assume command of the Infantry Battalion 53 in Fritzlar for two years.

In 1982 he was transferred to the Army Staff and served as aide- de-camp to the Inspector of the Army Meinhard shine. Two years later, in 1984, was Stöckmann aide- de-camp of the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Wolfgang Altenburg. On April 1, 1986, he took over as colonel again a troop command and commanded until 30 September 1989, the armored brigade 15 in Koblenz. After this use, he was again transferred to the Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn and served there, promoted to Brigadier General as Head of Personnel, Training and Internal Leadership in the Army Staff. After the fall of Major General Stöckmann was 1991-1993 commander of the 5th Panzer Division in Diez. After his appointment as Lieutenant-General in 1993, he took over the NATO post of chief of staff and deputy commander of the headquarters of the Allied Land Forces Central Europe in Heidelberg.

After his appointment as General Stöckmann served from March 1996 to two years as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Central Europe NATO and took over on 1 April 1998 the post of Chief of Staff at NATO Headquarters Europe ( SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.

Only six days after the attacks of 11 September 2001 entered Stöckmann, September 17, from his post as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe ( DSACEUR ) under Joseph W. Ralston on. Right at the beginning of his term first appeared the NATO alliance case under Chapter 5 of the NATO Charter, in force. Result of the operations were Eagle Assist and Operation Active Endeavour. In addition, the NATO integration of the first Eastern European countries and their armed forces in his tenure, including Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary fell. September 30, 2002 Stöckmann finally retired and later led on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Defence bilateral security talks.

Stöckmann is married and has one son and two daughters.

Awards

• 2002: Grand Silver Medal with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria