17 Oct. 2008
On 8 October Brigadier General Wilhelm Grün, both Deputy Commander Multinational Task Force South (DCOM MNTF S) and Commander 21st German Contingent, handed over the command of Maneuver Battalion Prizren from the German Lieutenant Colonel Björn F. Schulz to his fellow countryman Lieutenant Colonel Marc Vahrenholz.
General Grün thanked Lieutenant Colonel Schulz for his committed and exemplary way of leading this unit. He emphasized “during the past four months, even if there weren't any incidents, the German Maneuver Battalion had always been prepared to take action should anything unforeseen have happened”. He also spoke very highly of the successful integration of the Turkish company from Mamusha into the Battalion and the fact that the Battalion under the leadership of Lieutenant Schulz was distinguished by its neutrality and its way of approaching people, thus being able to win the population's confidence.
"I am leaving Kosovo with a feeling of friendship with all people of all segments of the population taking along many impressions of this beautiful country both in my head and in my heart. I would like to thank the population for the good cooperation and for the always friendly manner of accompanying our tour. May Kosovo look forward to a lasting period of peace", said the outgoing Battalion Commander.
Then General Grün welcomed the new Commander and wished him a likewise good and successful tour. After the change of command Lieutenant Colonel Varenholz, who is the Commander of a Mountain Infantry Battalion in Germany, said:
"I am looking forward to my new task as Commander Maneuver Battalion Prizren and the associated challenge. I would like to ask the population to approach the new contingent with the same confidence and frankness as they did with our predecessors."
Text: Major Michael Barthou
