Army Medical Service (Germany)

The red cross is used as the protective sign by the Army Medical Service
Beret insignia of the Army Medical Service

The Army Medical Service (German: Sanitätsdienst Heer or Sanitätsdienst des Heeres[1]) is a non-combat specialty branch of the German Army traditionally responsible for providing medical services within the army, and which has a humanitarian function during armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and specific rights and responsibilities under the Geneva Conventions, their additional protocols and customary international humanitarian law. It is entitled under international humanitarian law to use the red cross as a protective sign and its personnel are protected persons under international humanitarian law.[2] Since 2002, most of its former responsibilities have been transferred to the Joint Medical Service. The Army Medical Service still exists as a small entity within the German military.

  1. ^ Sanitätsdienst des Heeres, deutschesheer.de
  2. ^ Rule 25: Medical Personnel, Customary IHL database, International Committee of the Red Cross