Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)

{{short description|Ministry of the Interior of Germany}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = Federal Ministry of the Interior | nativename = ''Bundesministerium des Innern'' | logo = DEgov-BMI-Logo.svg | logo_width = 250 px | logo_caption = | seal = | seal_width = | seal_caption = | image = Bundesministerium des Innern, Neubau Berlin.jpg | image_size = 300 px | formed = {{Start date and age|1879|12|24|df=y|p=y}} as the ''Reichsamt des Inneren''<br> {{Start date and age|1949|05|23|df=y|p=y}} in the current form | preceding = | dissolved = | superseding = | jurisdiction = [[Government of Germany]] | headquarters = Alt-Moabit 140<br />10557 [[Berlin]] | coordinates = {{coord|52|31|17|N|13|21|44|E|region:DE-BE_type:landmark|display=title,inline}} | employees = 60,000 (subordinate agencies)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmi.bund.de/DE/ministerium/ministerium-node.html;jsessionid=E7126FB4BABD8B6459860A69DAAB2973.1_cid295|title=Ministerium|website=www.bmi.bund.de|accessdate=Oct 5, 2022}}</ref><br/>1,500 (ministry) | budget = [[€]]18.458 billion (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundeshaushalt.de/#/2021/soll/ausgaben/einzelplan/06.html|title=Bundeshaushalt|website=www.bundeshaushalt.de|access-date=7 May 2021}}</ref> | minister1_name = [[Alexander Dobrindt]] | minister1_pfo = Federal Minister of the Interior | chief1_name = [[Christoph de Vries]] | chief1_position = Parliamentary State Secretary | chief2_name = [[Daniela Ludwig]] | chief2_position = Parliamentary State Secretary | chief3_name = | chief3_position = | parent_agency = | child1_agency = [[Federal Police (Germany)|Federal Police]] | child2_agency = [[Federal Office for Migration and Refugees]] | child3_agency = [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Federal Criminal Police Office]] | child4_agency = [[Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution]] | child5_agency = [[Federal Office of Administration]] | child6_agency = [[Technisches Hilfswerk]] | child7_agency = [[Federal Statistical Office of Germany]] | child8_agency = Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance | child9_agency = [[Federal Office for Information Security]] | child10_agency = [[Federal Agency for Civic Education]] | child11_agency = [[Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy]] | child12_agency = Procurement Agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior | child13_agency = Federal Institute of Sport Science | child14_agency = [[Federal Institute for Population Research]] | website = {{website|https://www.bmi.bund.de/}} | footnotes = }} [[File:Siegelmarke Reichsamt des Innern W0204905.jpg|thumb|[[Seal (emblem)|Seal]] of the ''Reichsamt des Innern'']] [[File:Siegelmarke Reichsministerium des Innern W0255488.jpg|thumb|Pre-1923 Seal of the Weimar-era ''Reichsministerium des Innern'']] [[File:BMI Berlin HQ (20150511-DSC05153).JPG|thumb|BMI in [[Berlin]]]] [[File:Bundesinnenministerium Eingang Bonn 2008b.jpg|thumb|BMI in [[Bonn]]]]

The '''Federal Ministry of the Interior''' ({{langx|de|Bundesministerium des Innern}}, {{IPA|de|ˈbʊndəsminɪsˌteːʁiʊm dɛs ˈʔɪnɐn ʔʊnt fyːɐ̯ ˈhaɪmaːt|pron|De-Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat.ogg}}; abbreviated '''BMI''') is a [[German Cabinet|cabinet-level ministry]] of the [[Federal Republic of Germany]]. Its main office is in [[Berlin]], with a secondary seat in [[Bonn]]. The current minister is [[Alexander Dobrindt]]. It is comparable to the UK [[Home Office]] or a combination of the [[US Department of Homeland Security]] and the [[US Department of Justice]], because both manage several law enforcement agencies. The BMI is tasked with the internal security of Germany. To fulfill this responsibility it maintains, among other agencies, the two biggest federal law enforcement agencies in Germany, the [[Federal Police (Germany)|Federal Police]] (including the [[GSG 9]]) and the [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Federal Criminal Police Office]]. It is also responsible for the federal domestic intelligence agency, the [[Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution]].

== History == The ''Reichsamt des Innern'' (Imperial Office of the Interior) was the [[Ministry of the Interior]] of the [[German Empire]]. On the proposal of the [[Reichskanzler]] [[Otto von Bismarck]] it was created on 24 December 1879 by an Imperial decree from the [[Reich Chancellery]]. Like the other Imperial Offices it was directly under the control of the Reichskanzler. The seat of the office was in Berlin and it was managed by a [[Secretary of State]], who from 1881 until 1916 also simultaneously held the office of [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice-Chancellor]]. The [[Government gazette|gazette]] for the publication of official notices was run by the Office from 1880. Entitled the ''Zentralblatt für das Deutsche Reich'' (ZBl), it had been published by the Reich Chancellery from 1873 until 1879.

With the {{ill|Law on the Provisional Imperial Government|de|Gesetz über die vorläufige Reichsgewalt}} of 11 February 1919, the Imperial Office became the ''Reichsministerium des Innern (RMI)'' (Ministry of the Interior) which remained the German Ministry of the Interior during the [[Weimar Republic]] and [[Nazi Germany]]. From 1923 until 1945, the ministry published the government gazette, which was entitled the ''Reichsministerialblatt'' (RMBl). On 1 November 1934 it was united with the [[Prussian Ministry of the Interior]] as the ''Reichs- und Preußischen Ministerium des Innern'' (Imperial and Prussian Ministry of the Interior).<ref>Stephan Lehnstaedt: ''Der „[[Totaler Krieg|Totale Krieg]]“ im Reichsministerium des Innern unter Heinrich Himmler''. In: ''Die Verwaltung. Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht und Verwaltungswissenschaften''. 39. Vol., 2006, pp. 393–420; Walter Strauß: ''Das Reichsministerium des Innern und die Judengesetzgebung. Aufzeichnungen von Doktor [[Bernhard Lösener]].'' In: ''[[Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte]]'' 9 (1961), part 3, pp. 262–313.</ref>

In 1949, the Imperial Ministry of the Interior (effectively defunct since the end of the war in Europe in 1945) was succeeded by the present Federal Ministry, though it served as the Interior Ministry for [[West Germany]] only until [[German reunification]] in 1990. From 1949 to 1970, 54% of the ministry's department leaders were former [[Nazi Party]] members, their share peaking at 66% in 1961.<ref>''Viele frühere NSDAP-Mitglieder'', [[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]], 5 November 2015. p. 4</ref>

Under the [[Fourth Merkel cabinet]], which took office in February 2018, the Ministry of the Interior was merged with the building department, which had been included in the [[Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure|ministry of transport]] from 1998 to 2013, and the [[Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety|environment ministry]] from 2013 to 2018. The ministry, headed by the former [[Bavaria]]n minister-president [[Horst Seehofer]], was then renamed to "Interior, Building and Homeland". The renaming was controversial as some interpreted the term ''[[Heimat]]'' as old-fashioned or even nationalistic.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Thomas Escritt |title=Home is where the Heimat is: Germans bemused by new ministry |newspaper=Reuters |date=8 February 2018 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-heimat/home-is-where-the-heimat-is-germans-bemused-by-new-ministry-idUSKBN1FS2UD}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Ben Knight |title=A deeper look at Germany's new Interior and Heimat Ministry |newspaper=DW |date=12 February 2018 |url=http://www.dw.com/en/a-deeper-look-at-germanys-new-interior-and-heimat-ministry/a-42554122}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author1=Allison Williams |author2=Daniel Delhaes |author3=Martin Greive |title=Germany's new homeland ministry raises questions – and eyebrows |newspaper=Handelsblatt Global |date=13 February 2018 |url=https://global.handelsblatt.com/politics/germanys-new-homeland-ministry-raises-questions-eyebrows-886820}}</ref>

== Responsibilities == The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for internal security and the protection of the constitutional order, for civil protection against disasters and terrorism, for displaced persons, administrative questions, and sports. It is host to the Standing Committee of Interior Ministers and also drafts all passport, identity card, firearms, and explosives legislation. The ministry also houses the Joint Anti-Terrorism Center formed in 2004 which is an information-sharing and analytical forum for all [[Law enforcement in Germany|German police]] and [[List of intelligence agencies of Germany|intelligence agencies]] involved in the fight against terrorism.

== Organization ==

=== State Secretaries === The minister is supported by two parliamentary [[Secretary of State#Germany|state secretaries]] and five state secretaries who manage the ministry's various departments.

=== Departments === state secretaries #1 and #2 *"P" Department (''Abteilung'' P) is the ministry's police department and has two branches: law enforcement and counter-terrorism. It analyses crime control issues and develops concepts and drafts laws to improve law enforcement and crime prevention efforts. It also manages the [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Federal Criminal Police Office]], coordinates [[Bereitschaftspolizei|police support group]] deployments and represents federal interests in the sport and security arena. Due to Germany's federal structure, it can only promote internal security and public safety by cooperating with the [[Landespolizei|state police forces]] and with agencies within the [[European Union]] (EU) and beyond. *"IS" Department (''Abteilung'' IS) is the internal security department that protects the German state against political extremism. It exercises supervisory control over the [[Verfassungsschutz|Federal Office for Constitution Protection]], studies extremist groups and can ban them as a final resort. In addition, the department is responsible for the security of classified information and prevention of sabotage and espionage. It also manages civil defense and emergency management efforts at the national level and exercises supervisory control over the Civil Protection Center and [[Technisches Hilfswerk|Federal Agency for Technical Relief]]. *"B" Department (''Abteilung'' B) supervises and manages [[German Federal Police]] operations. *"M" Department (''Abteilung'' M) is responsible for [[immigration]], [[Racial integration|integration]], [[refugees]] and European harmonisation. *"Z" Department (''Abteilung'' Z) is the central office. *"D" Department (''Abteilung'' D) is responsible for the [[civil service]]. *"O" Department (''Abteilung'' O) is responsible for administrative modernisation and organisation. *"V" Department (''Abteilung'' V) is responsible for constitutional, state, administrative and European law. state secretary #3 *"G" Department (''Abteilung'' G) is responsible for policy, Europe and international developments *"H" Department (''Abteilung'' H) is responsible for society affairs *"SP" Department (''Abteilung'' SP) is responsible for [[sport]]. state secretary #4 *department digital society *department digital state *department cyber security state secretary #5 *2 departments on construction, housing and public buildings

=== Special agencies === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Name ! Abbrev. ! Translation |- | {{lang|de|Bundesausgleichsamt}} || BAA || {{ill|Federal Equalization of Burdens Office|de|Bundesausgleichsamt}} |- | {{lang|de|Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge}} || BAMF || [[Federal Office for Migration and Refugees]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesakademie für öffentliche Verwaltung}} || BAköV || {{ill|Federal Academy of Public Administration|de|Bundesakademie für öffentliche Verwaltung}} |- | {{lang|de|Beschaffungsamt des BMI}} || BeschA || {{ill|Procurement Agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior|de|Beschaffungsamt des BMI}} |- | {{lang|de|Bundesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit}} || BfDI || [[Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz}} || BfV || [[Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundespolizei}} || BPOL || [[German Federal Police|Federal Police]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung}} || BiB || [[Federal Institute for Population Research]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft}} || BISp || {{ill|Federal Institute of Sport Science|de|Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft}} |- | {{lang|de|Bundeskriminalamt}} || BKA || [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Federal Criminal Police Office]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesamt für Kartografie und Geodäsie}} || BKG || [[Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung}} || BpB || [[Federal Agency for Civic Education]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik}} || BSI || [[Federal Office for Information Security]] |- | {{lang|de|Bundesverwaltungsamt}} || BVA || [[Federal Office of Administration]] |- | {{lang|la|Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe}} || BBK || {{ill|Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance|de|Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe}} |- | {{lang|de|Schutzkommission beim Bundesministerium des Innern}} || SchK || {{ill|Scientific Advisory Board on Civil Defense and Disaster Protection|de|Schutzkommission beim Bundesministerium des Innern}} |- | {{lang|de|Fachhochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung}} || FH Bund || {{ill|Federal Public Administration College|de|Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung}} |- | {{lang|de|Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Informationstechnik}} || KBSt || {{ill|Federal Government Commissioner for Information Technology|de|Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Informationstechnik}} |- | {{lang|de|Statistisches Bundesamt}} || StBA || [[Federal Statistical Office of Germany|Federal Statistical Office]] |- | {{lang|de|Technisches Hilfswerk}} || THW || [[Technisches Hilfswerk|Federal Agency for Technical Relief]] |- | {{lang|de|Unabhängige Kommission zur Überprüfung des Vermögens der Parteien und Massenorganisationen der DDR}} (defunct) || UKPV || {{ill|Independent Commission for the Review of Assets of Parties and Mass Organisations of the GDR|de|Unabhängige Kommission zur Überprüfung des Vermögens der Parteien und Massenorganisationen der DDR}} |- | {{lang|de|Vertreter des Bundesinteresses beim Bundesverwaltungsgericht}} || VBI || {{ill|Representative of the Federal Interest at the Federal Administrative Court|de|Vertreter des Bundesinteresses beim Bundesverwaltungsgericht}} |- | {{lang|de|Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Aussiedlerfragen und nationale Minderheiten}} || || {{ill|Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities|de|Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Aussiedlerfragen und nationale Minderheiten}} |- | {{lang|de|Bundesanstalt für den Digitalfunk der Behörden und Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben}} || BDBOS || {{ill|Federal Agency for Digital Radio of Authorities and Organisations with Security Responsibilities|de|Bundesanstalt für den Digitalfunk der Behörden und Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben}} |}

==See also== *[[List of German interior ministers]]

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == * {{Commonscatinline}} * {{Official|https://www.bmi.bund.de/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Federal Ministry of Interior (Germany)}} [[Category:Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)]] [[Category:Federal government ministries of Germany|Interior]] [[Category:Internal affairs ministries|Germany]] [[Category:Government ministries established in 1949|Germany, Interior]] [[Category:Emergency management in Germany]] [[Category:National security institutions]]