German battalion under Polish command for the first time in history

For the first time in history, a German battalion comprising 600 soldiers will be subordinated to the command of a foreign country. In 2015, the Bundeswehr will deploy 5,000 soldiers to NATO's eastern border, Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza. "This is our expression of confidence in Poland," said Bruno Kasdorf, the German Army Chief of Staff. Kasdorf announced Friday a new cooperation program between the Polish and German armies. Its key element is a mutual subordination of one battalion to the army of the other country. "A German commander of a battalion will receive and execute orders from a Polish brigade commander and vice-versa. Currently, it is only possible during joint military exercises. We already have good relations with the Polish army, we want to provide for a new quality on top of this," Kasdorf said. As for now, the Polish commander will not have the power to send German troops into military action, as under German law, the German Parliament is the sole body that can decide on foreign military missions.