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Germany's modern military traces its roots back to 1871 when the nation was unified under Prussian leadership. The formation of the German Army, known as the Deutsches Heer, occurred following the Franco-Prussian War, becoming a formidable force within Europe. This army remained largely intact until the end of World War I, when the German Empire was defeated in 1918, leading to the dissolution of the Deutsches Heer in 1919.
The term Deutsches Heer referred specifically to the army and air force components of Germany's military. Today, the German armed forces are known as the Bundeswehr, with the ground troops (Army) still bearing some historical ties to their origins.