Germany
This page details all information about night vision specific to Germany.
Manufacturers
Laws
Generally, image intensifiers and thermal devices are completely unregulated and free to trade, own and use.
The only exception is found in the German firearm law, as certain firearm-mounted equipment is prohibited by the Waffengesetz § 2.3[1] & annex 2[2][3].
According to annex 2 nr. 1.2.4.2 gun-mounted night vision attachments & sights are prohibited if they include an electronic image converter or an image intensifier.
Note:
- Image converters include infrared and thermal.
- Naturally, attaching regular night vision devices to the gun (e.g. duct taping) is also prohibited.
- Allthough cameras are image converters to an extent they don't seem to strictly fall under this category.
- Recently, hunting became exempt from this rule, with ownership & usage of night vision attachments and sights becoming legal for bearers of a hunting license for the sole purpose of hunting. This change might not have been implemented yet in the laws of the different federal states.
According to annex 2 nr. 1.2.4.1 gun-mounted devices that illuminate the target (e.g. flashlights) or mark the target (e.g. lasers) are prohibited.
Note:
- This includes light in the non-visual spectrum.
- Naturally, attaching regular flashlights or laser pointers to the gun (e.g. duct taping) is also prohibited.
- Allthough universal adapters aren't strictly prohibited, there have been alleged cases where the combination of a universal adapter "next to" a compatible flashlight have been interpreted as illegal attachment.
Military
The German armed forces mostly use Gen. 2 night vision monoculars and binoculars.
German special forces, like the Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK), have been seen using the American GPNVG-18.
