0 s . ▁The ▁first ▁German ▁military ▁colours ▁were ▁presented ▁by ▁President ▁Heinrich ▁L üb ke ▁to ▁the ▁cer emon ial ▁W ach b ata illon ▁( based ▁in ▁Berlin ) ▁on ▁ 7 ▁January ▁ 1 9 6 5 . ▁Col ours ▁are ▁presented ▁at ▁the ▁batt alion ▁and ▁regiment ▁levels ▁of ▁the ▁Bundes wehr . ▁The ▁presentation ▁is ▁pres ided ▁by ▁the ▁Federal ▁Minister ▁of ▁Def ense , ▁who ▁serves ▁as ▁the ▁commander - in - ch ief ▁of ▁the ▁Bundes wehr ▁in ▁times ▁of ▁peace , ▁or ▁by ▁the ▁Ins pect or ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁Bundes wehr . ▁Option ally ▁the ▁President ▁presents ▁the ▁colour ▁himself . ▁ ▁The ▁Volks ar mee ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁Democratic ▁Republic ▁( G DR ) ▁conducted ▁similar ▁cer emon ies ▁that ▁res emble d ▁it ' s ▁Soviet ▁( and ▁later ▁Russian ) ▁counter parts . ▁ ▁Poland ▁ ▁The ▁ceremony ▁of ▁the ▁presentation ▁of ▁colours ▁( Pol ish : U ro cz yst o ść ▁wr ę cz enia ▁s zt and aru ) ▁to ▁units ▁of ▁the ▁Polish ▁Ar med ▁Forces , ▁the ▁Police , ▁Border ▁Guard , ▁State ▁Fire ▁Service ▁and ▁other ▁uniform ed ▁organizations ▁is ▁a ▁ceremony ▁of ▁great ▁importance . ▁The ▁dec ree ▁issu ing ▁colours ▁to ▁these ▁organizations ▁is ▁issued ▁by ▁the ▁superior ▁authority ▁of ▁the ▁responsible ▁state ▁min istry ▁or ▁by ▁the ▁President ▁of ▁Poland , ▁for ▁example , ▁Ar med ▁Forces ▁colours ▁are ▁granted ▁to ▁deser ving ▁units ▁by ▁dec ree ▁of ▁the ▁Minister ▁of ▁National