Roll call in front of the Semper Opera House for 700 young officers

The Army Officer Training School in Dresden bid farewell to almost 700 soldiers from the current officer training course against the backdrop of the historic old town. At the end of the four and a half months of training, the participants were honored with a public roll call on Theaterplatz between the Semper Opera, Zwinger and Residenzschloss palaces.

"We are starting today in the middle of our wonderful city of Dresden," said Brigadier General Stephan Willer, Commander of the Army Officer School, at the ceremony. This is great because the Bundeswehr is and wants to be a visible part of society. The Erfurt Air Force Music Corps provided the musical accompaniment to the hour-long roll call.

Training to become leaders of the "Generation Zeitenwende"

For the 570 men and 116 women honored, the officer training course is an important step on the path to assuming responsibility as military leaders. "The task you have been given is one of the most beautiful of all: to train, educate and lead people in freedom to serve the state with life and limb," said Willer. He praised the young soldiers for their good performance. "They are the officers of the new generation. They are the ones who will shape and mold this new Bundeswehr."

Lieutenant Katharina Beck was honored with the Erwin von Witzleben Prize, named after a resistance fighter in the Second World War, for her outstanding attitude and exemplary performance. She has impressed professionally, intellectually and as a person, said Willer. Beck had returned from Finland to Germany in 2022 at the beginning of the Russian war of aggression to become a soldier.