The Military History Research Institute is the central public institution for military history research. It was founded in 1957, and was relocated fromFreiburg to Potsdam in 1994. The Institute is both a research institution and an agency integrated into the military hierarchy as part of the Joint Support Service (Streitkräftebasis). It is headed by a university-trained military officer. The core task of the institute is to study German military history and to utilise the results for history education in the Bundeswehr. It provides military history expertise for the political and military leadership as well as for inquiries from the academic community and the public.The Institute's work is based on the generally accepted rules and standards of historical research. MGFA sees itself as part of the scientific community and of the network of extra-university history research institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Institute fosters the co-operation with alarge number of research institutes in Germany and abroad and contributes to topical debates among historians.

The two divisions - Research headed by a civilian historian with international expertise and reputation, and Training, Information and Specialised Studies,led by a university-trained officer - employ nearly 40 academically trained military and civilian personnel. The academic work at the Military HistoryResearch Institute is reflected in a large number of publications. In the 50years of its existence, MGFA has issued several hundred publications intended for the academic community, the Bundeswehr and also the members of the public with an interest in military history. The in-house editorial staff and graphics section support the production of and design books and journals from the raw manuscript until they are ready for printing. In addition, MGFA has the largest specialised military history library in the German-speaking world with more than 240 000 media; the library is open to non-MGFA usersas well.Military HistoryResearch Institute (MGFA)

General Military History up to 1914 and Overarching Topics
The research area General MilitaryHistory up to 1914 and OverarchingTopics studies the historical dimension of current problems, using the methods of systematic, diachronic and synchronic comparison. The current focus is the project "ends of wars - post-war orders - subsequent conflicts in the19th and 20th centuries".

Era of World Wars
The Era of World Wars research area understands the epoch from 1914 to1945 as a historical unit. The works ofMGFA on the history of both world wars explain not only the historical roots of German armed forces in the post-war period but also contribute to the reappraisal of German history ingeneral. Individual studies, conferences and anthologies are instrumental insteadily introducing MGFA research interests into the international academic discourse.

Military History of the Federal Republic in the North AtlanticAlliance
The research area Military History of the Federal Republic in the North Atlantic Alliance follows an integrative approach which dovetails the history of NATO, the Bundeswehr and its major military branches. To this end, military history research is embedded in the Alliance strategy, security policy, and the constitution of the Federal Republicas well as in its economic development and society.

Military History of the GDR in theWarsaw Pact
With its research on the security policy and armed services and agencies of theGDR, the MGFA is making an important contribution to the reappraisal of German post-war military history and the history of the SED dictatorship.The research results on the role of the GDR and its military, the developmentof the NVA as an instrument of powerof the SED and the security architecture in the SED state as well as the relationship between the military and society in the GDR are published in the series "Militärgeschichte der DDR".

Training, Information and Specialised Studies
The Training, Information and Specialised Studies division adapts the results of basic research to history education needs in the Bundeswehr and provides teaching and learning materials. The new series "Wegweiser zur Geschichte"(A Guide to History) is intended inparticular for Bundeswehr personnel to be deployed abroad. The division organises conferences and further training and issues "Militärgeschichte"(Military History), a scientific journal for history education based on research findings.

Museums
One means of history education are the museums and collections of the Bundeswehr. The Military HistoryMuseum in Dresden, which is currently under reconstruction, and the Air Force Museum in Berlin-Gatow are subordinate to the Military History Research Institute, both technically and administratively. That means in particular that MGFA is involved in the further development of the museum concept in general and in individual exhibition projects. MGFA is the point of contact for all military history collections within the Bundeswehr.