Law of Armed Conflict - Manual - Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) 15/2 - May 2013

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher

Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) 15/2 presents the law of armed conflict as a practical manual for military and civilian personnel across command levels. It explains core legal concepts grounded in international humanitarian law, clarifies the scope and application to different types of armed conflicts and operations, and addresses rules governing combatants, civilians, attacks, and protected persons. It also outlines requirements for legal advisers, references the citation structure to source annexes, and provides a framework intended to be updated through supplements and special information materials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages228

Reading Time9 h 35 min

AccessFree to download

Historical Development and Legal Basis

Introduction

Historical Development

Legal Basis

Scope of Application of the Law of Armed Conflict

Armed Conflicts

Military Operations and Attacks

Localities and Zones under Special Protection

The End of Hostilities

Combatants and Other Persons in Armed Conflicts

Armed Forces, Combatants and Combatant Status

Civilian Components, Crews of Merchant Vessels and Civil Aircraft

Medical and Religious Personnel

Persons Taking Part in Hostilities without Combatant Status

Spies

Peculiarities of Aerial and Naval Warfare

Means and Methods of Warfare

Parlementaires and Protective Powers

Humanitarian Assistance

Bundesministerium der Verteidigung Law of Armed Con􀀒ict -Manual- Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) 15/2 Law of Armed Conflict – Manual – May 2013 DSK AV230100262 Federal Ministry of Defence Berlin, 1 May 2013 I hereby issue the Joint Service Regulation on Law of Armed Conflict – Manual – Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) 15/2 Dr. Thomas de Maizière This regulation supersedes Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) 15/2 ‘Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts – Manual’ issued August 1992, which will be destroyed. This Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) must be endorsed by 1 June 2016. Otherwise it will cease to have effect. Proponent: Directorate-General for Legal Affairs (R I 3) 1-4 ZDv 15/2 Preliminary Remarks 1. This service regulation is a manual for military and civilian personnel at all command levels and covers the law of armed conflict. It describes the law of armed conflict from the point of view of the Federal Ministry of Defence at the time this regulation is issued and isan important basis for the instruction of military personnel in international law, which is prescribed in Section 33 of the Legal Status of Military Personnel Act, in courses, exercises and general military training. Future developments of the law and of predeployment training for specific operations will be taken into appropriate account by supplements and special information material. 2. The text of the manual is based on important documents of international law. Citationsin the text refer to the annex of source documents. Numbers in bold type indicate the reference numbers of these texts. These are followed by numbers and letters indicating individual provisions. 1 3. The publication entitled ‘Documents on International Humanitarian Law’ (Sankt Augustin: Academia Verlag, 2012; 2nd edition), which is published by the Federal Foreign Office, the German Red Cross and the Federal Ministry of Defence, is a comprehensive compilation of texts on the law of armed conflict in both German and English. 4. Proposals for amendments to this service regulation must use the form provided in the Bundeswehr form database and must be submitted to Armed Forces Office Grp DvZentraleBw Kommerner Straße 188 53879 Euskirchen 1 E.g. 16a 46 = Article 46 of the (Hague) Regulations Concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land. Table of Contents Chapter 1 I . II. III. IV. V. VI. Chapter 2 I . II. III. IV. Chapter 3 I . II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. Chapter 4 I . II. III. IV. Chapter 5 I . II. Historical Development and Legal Basis Introduction Historical Development Legal Basis Military Necessity and Humanity The Binding Nature of International Law Tasks of Legal Advisers Scope of Application of the Law of Armed Conflict Armed Conflicts Military Operations and Attacks Localities and Zones under Special Protection The End of Hostilities Combatants and Other Persons in Armed Conflicts General Armed Forces, Combatants and Combatant Status Civilian Components, Crews of Merchant Vessels and Civil Aircraft Medical and Religious Personnel Persons Taking Part in Hostilities without Combatant Status Spies Peculiarities of Aerial and Naval Warfare Means and Methods of Warfare General Rules Means of Warfare Methods of Warfare Parlementaires and Protective Powers Protection of the Civilian Population General Civil Defence 101-155 101-105 106-131 132-140 141-142 143-152 153-155 201-238 201-213 214-215 216-220 221-238 301-349 301-306 307-332 333-336 337-339 340-344 345-348 349 401-499 401-436 437-477 478-490 491-499 501-596 501-518 519-525 ToC 2 ZDv 15/2 III. IV. V. VI. VII. Chapter 6 I . II. III. IV. V. VI. Chapter 7 I . II. III. Chapter 8 I . II. III. IV. V. VI. Chapter 9 I . II. Chapter 10 I . II. III. Humanitarian Assistance Occupation Aliens in the Territory of a Party to the Confli

FAQs

What is the purpose of Joint Service Regulation (ZDv) 15/2?

It serves as a manual for military and civilian personnel at all command levels, covering the law of armed conflict and providing a basis for instruction in international law.

How is the manual’s legal text supported and referenced?

The manual is based on important international law documents, and citations in the text refer to the annex of source documents; numbers in bold indicate reference numbers.

How does the regulation address updates and future legal developments?

Future developments of the law and of predeployment training for specific operations are intended to be taken into account by supplements and special information material, and amendment proposals must follow the Bundeswehr form database process.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher