THE BUNDESWEHR’S FIRST FIREFIGHT: OPERATION LIBELLE

In March 1997, public order in Albania broke down. There was looting, there were shootings, and for German citizens simply getting out of the country turned into a matter of life and death. In a few hours the Bundeswehr worked out an evacuation mission that brought a large number of civilians to safety despite heavy fighting. The operation was called LIBELLE.

In early 1997 Albania’s corrupt banking system collapsed and most of the population lost their savings. Angry citizens blamed the state, and violent mass protests followed that peaked in March. Criminal gangs moved through the streets and looted military arms depots. By March 13 at the latest it was clear: German civilians could no longer leave the country on their own without risking their lives.Bundeswehr commanders worked through the night on an evacuation plan, and at 7:30 a.m. the next day the first of 6 German CH-53Gs of the SFOR contingent lifted off from Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were supported by the frigate Niedersachsen, standing by off the coast, and by 3 C-160 Transalls. After 2 intermediate stops, the command element, medics and armored infantry aboard the helicopters finally came in on TIRANA and were fired on as they landed. The German force secured the landing zone and took on board as many civilians as possible, when unknown vehicles suddenly raced toward the waiting civilians, firing as they came. As they turned around for a second run, then-Colonel GLAWATZ, commander of the task force, opened fire on his own authority, and the Bundeswehr soldiers beat off the attack together.

In just 29 minutes, and through their courage, the soldiers saved 98 civilians from 22 nations from an unknown fate, among them 21 Germans. Despite the short preparation time, Operation LIBELLE was a successful baptism of fire for the Bundeswehr, and the readiness, dedication and professionalism of our soldiers are beyond question.

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