title: How to setup the Maven release plugin with Git?
body: <p>The last few days I have tried to configure the Maven Release plugin for a release with Git. I have setup a test project for it and I have tried so much configurations that I don't know how to display them all to you...</p>
  <p>In every case the Maven Release plugin use only the branch that is currently checked out. If I start the Release plugin on the <code>master</code> branch it create the tag on it, but if I'm on the <code>develop</code> branch it creates every thing there.</p>
  <p>My actual pom looks like this:</p>
  <pre><code>&lt;project&gt;
  ...
  &lt;scm&gt;
      &lt;connection&gt;scm:git:file://D:\Dev\gitremotetest\testpp&lt;/connection&gt;
      &lt;developerConnection&gt;scm:git:file://D:\Dev\gitremotetest\testpp&lt;/developerConnection&gt;
      &lt;tag&gt;HEAD&lt;/tag&gt;
  &lt;/scm&gt;
  ...
  &lt;build&gt;
      &lt;plugins&gt;
          &lt;plugin&gt;
              &lt;groupId&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins&lt;/groupId&gt;
              &lt;artifactId&gt;maven-release-plugin&lt;/artifactId&gt;
              &lt;version&gt;2.5.3&lt;/version&gt;
              &lt;dependencies&gt;
                  &lt;dependency&gt;
                      &lt;groupId&gt;org.apache.maven.scm&lt;/groupId&gt;
                      &lt;artifactId&gt;maven-scm-provider-gitexe&lt;/artifactId&gt;
                      &lt;version&gt;1.9.5&lt;/version&gt;
                  &lt;/dependency&gt;
              &lt;/dependencies&gt;
              &lt;configuration&gt;
                  &lt;branchName&gt;develop&lt;/branchName&gt;
                  &lt;pushChanges&gt;false&lt;/pushChanges&gt;
                  &lt;localCheckout&gt;true&lt;/localCheckout&gt;
              &lt;/configuration&gt;
          &lt;/plugin&gt;
      &lt;/plugins&gt;
  &lt;/build&gt;
  ...
  &lt;/project&gt;
  </code></pre>
  <p>I have searched a lot of websites and I cant find a complete configuration of the Release plugin with Git. The outcome should be, that the develop branch is pre-release version <code>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</code> and post-release version <code>0.0.2-SNAPSHOT</code>. The <code>master</code> branch should contain <code>prerelease</code> version <code>0.0.0</code> and post-release version <code>0.0.1</code>.</p>
  <p>This is the verbose Maven output:</p>
  <pre><code>Apache Maven 3.3.9 (bb52d8502b132ec0a5a3f4c09453c07478323dc5; 2015-11-10T17:41:47+01:00)
  Maven home: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED
  Java version: 1.8.0_91, vendor: Oracle Corporation
  Java home: C:\Programme\Java\jdk1.8.0_91\jre
  Default locale: de_DE, platform encoding: UTF-8
  OS name: &quot;windows 7&quot;, version: &quot;6.1&quot;, arch: &quot;amd64&quot;, family: &quot;dos&quot;
  [DEBUG] Created new class realm maven.api
  [DEBUG] Importing foreign packages into class realm maven.api
  [DEBUG]   Imported: LOTS OF IMPORTS
  [DEBUG] Populating class realm maven.api
  [INFO] Error stacktraces are turned on.
  [DEBUG] Reading global settings from EMBEDDED\conf\settings.xml
  [DEBUG] Reading user settings from C:\Users\ph729\.m2\settings.xml
  [DEBUG] Reading global toolchains from D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED\conf\toolchains.xml
  [DEBUG] Reading user toolchains from C:\Users\ph729\.m2\toolchains.xml
  [DEBUG] Using local repository at C:\Users\ph729\.m2\repository
  [DEBUG] Using manager EnhancedLocalRepositoryManager with priority 10.0 for C:\Users\ph729\.m2\repository
  [INFO] Scanning for projects...
  [DEBUG] Extension realms for project test:testpp:pom:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT: (none)
  [DEBUG] Looking up lifecyle mappings for packaging pom from ClassRealm[plexus.core, parent: null]
  [DEBUG] Resolving plugin prefix release from [org.apache.maven.plugins, org.codehaus.mojo]
  [DEBUG] Resolved plugin prefix release to org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin from POM test:testpp:pom:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT
  [DEBUG] === REACTOR BUILD PLAN ================================================
  [DEBUG] Project: test:testpp:pom:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT
  [DEBUG] Tasks:   [release:prepare]
  [DEBUG] Style:   Aggregating
  [DEBUG] =======================================================================
  [INFO]                                                                         
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] Building testpp 0.0.13-SNAPSHOT
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [DEBUG] Resolving plugin prefix release from [org.apache.maven.plugins, org.codehaus.mojo]
  [DEBUG] Resolved plugin prefix release to org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin from POM test:testpp:pom:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT
  [DEBUG] Lifecycle default -&gt; [validate, initialize, generate-sources, process-sources, generate-resources, process-resources, compile, process-classes, generate-test-sources, process-test-sources, generate-test-resources, process-test-resources, test-compile, process-test-classes, test, prepare-package, package, pre-integration-test, integration-test, post-integration-test, verify, install, deploy]
  [DEBUG] Lifecycle clean -&gt; [pre-clean, clean, post-clean]
  [DEBUG] Lifecycle site -&gt; [pre-site, site, post-site, site-deploy]
  [DEBUG] === PROJECT BUILD PLAN ================================================
  [DEBUG] Project:       test:testpp:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT
  [DEBUG] Dependencies (collect): []
  [DEBUG] Dependencies (resolve): []
  [DEBUG] Repositories (dependencies): [ID (https://IP+PORT/repository/maven-public/, default, releases+snapshots), central (https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2, default, releases)]
  [DEBUG] Repositories (plugins)     : [ID (https://IP+PORT/repository/maven-central/, default, releases+snapshots), central (https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2, default, releases)]
  [DEBUG] -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  [DEBUG] Goal:          org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.5.3:prepare (default-cli)
  [DEBUG] Style:         Aggregating
  [DEBUG] Configuration: &lt;?xml version=&quot;1.0&quot; encoding=&quot;UTF-8&quot;?&gt;
  &lt;configuration&gt;
    &lt;addSchema default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${addSchema}&lt;/addSchema&gt;
    &lt;allowReleasePluginSnapshot default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${allowReleasePluginSnapshot}&lt;/allowReleasePluginSnapshot&gt;
    &lt;allowTimestampedSnapshots default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${ignoreSnapshots}&lt;/allowTimestampedSnapshots&gt;
    &lt;arguments&gt;${arguments}&lt;/arguments&gt;
    &lt;autoVersionSubmodules default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${autoVersionSubmodules}&lt;/autoVersionSubmodules&gt;
    &lt;basedir default-value=&quot;${basedir}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;checkModificationExcludeList&gt;${checkModificationExcludeList}&lt;/checkModificationExcludeList&gt;
    &lt;commitByProject default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${commitByProject}&lt;/commitByProject&gt;
    &lt;completionGoals default-value=&quot;&quot;&gt;${completionGoals}&lt;/completionGoals&gt;
    &lt;developmentVersion&gt;${developmentVersion}&lt;/developmentVersion&gt;
    &lt;dryRun default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${dryRun}&lt;/dryRun&gt;
    &lt;generateReleasePoms default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${generateReleasePoms}&lt;/generateReleasePoms&gt;
    &lt;javaHome default-value=&quot;${java.home}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;localRepoDirectory default-value=&quot;${maven.repo.local}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;mavenExecutorId default-value=&quot;invoker&quot;&gt;${mavenExecutorId}&lt;/mavenExecutorId&gt;
    &lt;mavenHome default-value=&quot;${maven.home}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;password&gt;${password}&lt;/password&gt;
    &lt;pomFileName&gt;${pomFileName}&lt;/pomFileName&gt;
    &lt;preparationGoals default-value=&quot;clean verify&quot;&gt;${preparationGoals}&lt;/preparationGoals&gt;
    &lt;project default-value=&quot;${project}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;projectVersionPolicyId default-value=&quot;default&quot;&gt;${projectVersionPolicyId}&lt;/projectVersionPolicyId&gt;
    &lt;pushChanges default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${pushChanges}&lt;/pushChanges&gt;
    &lt;reactorProjects default-value=&quot;${reactorProjects}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;releaseVersion&gt;${releaseVersion}&lt;/releaseVersion&gt;
    &lt;remoteTagging default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${remoteTagging}&lt;/remoteTagging&gt;
    &lt;resume default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${resume}&lt;/resume&gt;
    &lt;scmCommentPrefix default-value=&quot;[maven-release-plugin] &quot;&gt;${scmCommentPrefix}&lt;/scmCommentPrefix&gt;
    &lt;session default-value=&quot;${session}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;settings default-value=&quot;${settings}&quot;/&gt;
    &lt;suppressCommitBeforeTag default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${suppressCommitBeforeTag}&lt;/suppressCommitBeforeTag&gt;
    &lt;tag&gt;testpp-0.0.13-SNAPSHOT-m1&lt;/tag&gt;
    &lt;tagBase&gt;${tagBase}&lt;/tagBase&gt;
    &lt;tagNameFormat default-value=&quot;@{project.artifactId}-@{project.version}&quot;&gt;${tagNameFormat}&lt;/tagNameFormat&gt;
    &lt;updateDependencies default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${updateDependencies}&lt;/updateDependencies&gt;
    &lt;updateWorkingCopyVersions default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${updateWorkingCopyVersions}&lt;/updateWorkingCopyVersions&gt;
    &lt;useEditMode default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${useEditMode}&lt;/useEditMode&gt;
    &lt;username&gt;${username}&lt;/username&gt;
    &lt;waitBeforeTagging default-value=&quot;0&quot;&gt;${waitBeforeTagging}&lt;/waitBeforeTagging&gt;
  &lt;/configuration&gt;
  [DEBUG] =======================================================================
  [INFO] 
  [INFO] --- maven-release-plugin:2.5.3:prepare (default-cli) @ testpp ---
  [DEBUG] Dependency collection stats: {ConflictMarker.analyzeTime=2, ConflictMarker.markTime=0, ConflictMarker.nodeCount=191, ConflictIdSorter.graphTime=1, ConflictIdSorter.topsortTime=1, ConflictIdSorter.conflictIdCount=68, ConflictIdSorter.conflictIdCycleCount=0, ConflictResolver.totalTime=11, ConflictResolver.conflictItemCount=172, DefaultDependencyCollector.collectTime=646, DefaultDependencyCollector.transformTime=17}
  [DEBUG] org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:jar:2.5.3:
  AND LOTS OF MORE
  [DEBUG] Configuring mojo org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.5.3:prepare from plugin realm ClassRealm[plugin&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.5.3, parent: sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader@5c647e05]
  [DEBUG] Configuring mojo 'org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.5.3:prepare' with basic configurator --&gt;
  [DEBUG]   (f) addSchema = true
  [DEBUG]   (f) allowReleasePluginSnapshot = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) allowTimestampedSnapshots = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) autoVersionSubmodules = false
  [DEBUG]   (s) basedir = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [DEBUG]   (f) commitByProject = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) dryRun = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) generateReleasePoms = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) javaHome = C:\Programme\Java\jdk1.8.0_91\jre
  [DEBUG]   (f) mavenExecutorId = invoker
  [DEBUG]   (f) mavenHome = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED
  [DEBUG]   (f) preparationGoals = clean verify
  [DEBUG]   (f) project = MavenProject: test:testpp:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT @ D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\pom.xml
  [DEBUG]   (f) projectVersionPolicyId = default
  [DEBUG]   (f) pushChanges = true
  [DEBUG]   (f) reactorProjects = [MavenProject: test:testpp:0.0.13-SNAPSHOT @ D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\pom.xml]
  [DEBUG]   (f) remoteTagging = true
  [DEBUG]   (f) resume = true
  [DEBUG]   (f) scmCommentPrefix = [maven-release-plugin] 
  [DEBUG]   (f) session = org.apache.maven.execution.MavenSession@67a056f1
  [DEBUG]   (f) settings = org.apache.maven.execution.SettingsAdapter@247667dd
  [DEBUG]   (f) suppressCommitBeforeTag = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) tag = testpp-0.0.13-SNAPSHOT-m1
  [DEBUG]   (f) tagNameFormat = @{project.artifactId}-@{project.version}
  [DEBUG]   (f) updateDependencies = true
  [DEBUG]   (f) updateWorkingCopyVersions = true
  [DEBUG]   (f) useEditMode = false
  [DEBUG]   (f) waitBeforeTagging = 0
  [DEBUG] -- end configuration --
  [DEBUG] release.properties not found - using empty properties
  [INFO] Verifying that there are no local modifications...
  [INFO]   ignoring changes on: **\pom.xml.next, **\release.properties, **\pom.xml.branch, **\pom.xml.tag, **\pom.xml.backup, **\pom.xml.releaseBackup
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git rev-parse --show-toplevel&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git status --porcelain .&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/.project
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/.project
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/.settings/
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/.settings/
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/release.properties
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/release.properties
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/target/
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/target/
  [INFO] Checking dependencies and plugins for snapshots ...
  [INFO] Transforming 'testpp'...
  [INFO] Not generating release POMs
  [INFO] Executing goals 'clean verify'...
  [DEBUG] Using ${maven.home} of: 'D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED'.
  [DEBUG] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED\bin\mvn.cmd -B -X -D maven.repo.local=C:\Users\ph729\.m2\repository -s C:\Users\ph729\AppData\Local\Temp\release-settings5443953982957427387.xml clean verify&quot;
  [INFO] Apache Maven 3.3.9 (bb52d8502b132ec0a5a3f4c09453c07478323dc5; 2015-11-10T17:41:47+01:00)
  [INFO] Maven home: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED
  [INFO] Java version: 1.8.0_91, vendor: Oracle Corporation
  [INFO] Java home: C:\Programme\Java\jdk1.8.0_91\jre
  [INFO] Default locale: de_DE, platform encoding: Cp1252
  [INFO] OS name: &quot;windows 7&quot;, version: &quot;6.1&quot;, arch: &quot;amd64&quot;, family: &quot;dos&quot;
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Created new class realm maven.api
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Importing foreign packages into class realm maven.api
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   Imported: LOTS OF IMPORTS
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Populating class realm maven.api
  [INFO] [INFO] Error stacktraces are turned on.
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Reading global settings from D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED\conf\settings.xml
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Reading user settings from C:\Users\ph729\AppData\Local\Temp\release-settings5443953982957427387.xml
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Reading global toolchains from D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\EMBEDDED\conf\toolchains.xml
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Reading user toolchains from C:\Users\ph729\.m2\toolchains.xml
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Using local repository at C:\Users\ph729\.m2\repository
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Using manager EnhancedLocalRepositoryManager with priority 10.0 for C:\Users\ph729\.m2\repository
  [INFO] [INFO] Scanning for projects...
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Extension realms for project test:testpp:pom:0.0.13: (none)
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Looking up lifecyle mappings for packaging pom from ClassRealm[plexus.core, parent: null]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] === REACTOR BUILD PLAN ================================================
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Project: test:testpp:pom:0.0.13
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Tasks:   [clean, verify]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Style:   Regular
  [INFO] [DEBUG] =======================================================================
  [INFO]     [INFO]                                                                         
  [INFO] [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] [INFO] Building testpp 0.0.13
  [INFO] [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle default -&gt; [validate, initialize, generate-sources, process-sources, generate-resources, process-resources, compile, process-classes, generate-test-sources, process-test-sources, generate-test-resources, process-test-resources, test-compile, process-test-classes, test, prepare-package, package, pre-integration-test, integration-test, post-integration-test, verify, install, deploy]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle clean -&gt; [pre-clean, clean, post-clean]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle site -&gt; [pre-site, site, post-site, site-deploy]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle default -&gt; [validate, initialize, generate-sources, process-sources, generate-resources, process-resources, compile, process-classes, generate-test-sources, process-test-sources, generate-test-resources, process-test-resources, test-compile, process-test-classes, test, prepare-package, package, pre-integration-test, integration-test, post-integration-test, verify, install, deploy]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle clean -&gt; [pre-clean, clean, post-clean]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle site -&gt; [pre-site, site, post-site, site-deploy]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle default -&gt; [validate, initialize, generate-sources, process-sources, generate-resources, process-resources, compile, process-classes, generate-test-sources, process-test-sources, generate-test-resources, process-test-resources, test-compile, process-test-classes, test, prepare-package, package, pre-integration-test, integration-test, post-integration-test, verify, install, deploy]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle clean -&gt; [pre-clean, clean, post-clean]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Lifecycle site -&gt; [pre-site, site, post-site, site-deploy]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] === PROJECT BUILD PLAN ================================================
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Project:       test:testpp:0.0.13
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Dependencies (collect): []
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Dependencies (resolve): []
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Repositories (dependencies): [ID (https://IP+PORT/repository/maven-public/, default, releases+snapshots), central (https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2, default, releases)]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Repositories (plugins)     : [ID (https://IP+PORT/repository/maven-central/, default, releases+snapshots), central (https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2, default, releases)]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Goal:          org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5:clean (default-clean)
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Style:         Regular
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Configuration: &lt;?xml version=&quot;1.0&quot; encoding=&quot;UTF-8&quot;?&gt;
  [INFO] &lt;configuration&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;directory default-value=&quot;${project.build.directory}&quot;/&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;excludeDefaultDirectories default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${clean.excludeDefaultDirectories}&lt;/excludeDefaultDirectories&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;failOnError default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${maven.clean.failOnError}&lt;/failOnError&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;followSymLinks default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${clean.followSymLinks}&lt;/followSymLinks&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;outputDirectory default-value=&quot;${project.build.outputDirectory}&quot;/&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;reportDirectory default-value=&quot;${project.reporting.outputDirectory}&quot;/&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;retryOnError default-value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;${maven.clean.retryOnError}&lt;/retryOnError&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;skip default-value=&quot;false&quot;&gt;${clean.skip}&lt;/skip&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;testOutputDirectory default-value=&quot;${project.build.testOutputDirectory}&quot;/&gt;
  [INFO]   &lt;verbose&gt;${clean.verbose}&lt;/verbose&gt;
  [INFO] &lt;/configuration&gt;
  [INFO] [DEBUG] =======================================================================
  [INFO] [INFO] 
  [INFO] [INFO] --- maven-clean-plugin:2.5:clean (default-clean) @ testpp ---
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Dependency collection stats: {ConflictMarker.analyzeTime=1, ConflictMarker.markTime=0, ConflictMarker.nodeCount=3, ConflictIdSorter.graphTime=1, ConflictIdSorter.topsortTime=1, ConflictIdSorter.conflictIdCount=3, ConflictIdSorter.conflictIdCycleCount=0, ConflictResolver.totalTime=4, ConflictResolver.conflictItemCount=3, DefaultDependencyCollector.collectTime=64, DefaultDependencyCollector.transformTime=10}
  [INFO] [DEBUG] org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:jar:2.5:
  [INFO] [DEBUG]    org.apache.maven:maven-plugin-api:jar:2.0.6:compile
  [INFO] [DEBUG]    org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils:jar:3.0:compile
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Created new class realm plugin&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Importing foreign packages into class realm plugin&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   Imported:  &lt; maven.api
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Populating class realm plugin&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   Included: org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:jar:2.5
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   Included: org.codehaus.plexus:plexus-utils:jar:3.0
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Configuring mojo org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5:clean from plugin realm ClassRealm[plugin&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5, parent: sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader@5c647e05]
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Configuring mojo 'org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-clean-plugin:2.5:clean' with basic configurator --&gt;
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) directory = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) excludeDefaultDirectories = false
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) failOnError = true
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) followSymLinks = false
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) outputDirectory = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target\classes
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) reportDirectory = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target\site
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) retryOnError = true
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) skip = false
  [INFO] [DEBUG]   (f) testOutputDirectory = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target\test-classes
  [INFO] [DEBUG] -- end configuration --
  [INFO] [INFO] Deleting D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Skipping non-existing directory D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target\classes
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Skipping non-existing directory D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target\test-classes
  [INFO] [DEBUG] Skipping non-existing directory D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp\target\site
  [INFO] [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] [INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
  [INFO] [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] [INFO] Total time: 0.991 s
  [INFO] [INFO] Finished at: 2016-09-19T14:08:12+02:00
  [INFO] [INFO] Final Memory: 10M/184M
  [INFO] [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] Checking in modified POMs...
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git add -- pom.xml&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git rev-parse --show-toplevel&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git status --porcelain .&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [DEBUG] M  testpp/pom.xml
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/.project
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/.project
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/.settings/
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/.settings/
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/pom.xml.releaseBackup
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/pom.xml.releaseBackup
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/release.properties
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/release.properties
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git commit --verbose -F C:\Users\ph729\AppData\Local\Temp\maven-scm-1528637449.commit pom.xml&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git symbolic-ref HEAD&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git push file://D:\Dev\gitremotetest\testpp refs/heads/master:refs/heads/master&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Tagging release with the label testpp-0.0.13-SNAPSHOT-m1...
  [DEBUG] ScmTagPhase :: scmTagParameters remotingTag true
  [DEBUG] ScmTagPhase :: scmTagParameters scmRevision null
  [DEBUG] ScmTagPhase :: fileSet  basedir = D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp; files = []
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git tag -F C:\Users\ph729\AppData\Local\Temp\maven-scm-1215806812.commit testpp-0.0.13-SNAPSHOT-m1&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git push file://D:\Dev\gitremotetest\testpp refs/tags/testpp-0.0.13-SNAPSHOT-m1&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git ls-files&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Transforming 'testpp'...
  [INFO] Not removing release POMs
  [INFO] Checking in modified POMs...
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git add -- pom.xml&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git rev-parse --show-toplevel&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git status --porcelain .&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [DEBUG] M  testpp/pom.xml
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/.project
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/.project
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/.settings/
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/.settings/
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/pom.xml.releaseBackup
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/pom.xml.releaseBackup
  [DEBUG] ?? testpp/release.properties
  [WARNING] Ignoring unrecognized line: ?? testpp/release.properties
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git commit --verbose -F C:\Users\ph729    \AppData\Local\Temp\maven-scm-1020827492.commit pom.xml&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git symbolic-ref HEAD&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Executing: cmd.exe /X /C &quot;git push file://D:\Dev\gitremotetest\testpp refs/heads/master:refs/heads/master&quot;
  [INFO] Working directory: D:\Dev\git\testpp\testpp
  [INFO] Release preparation complete.
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] BUILD SUCCESS
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] Total time: 6.132 s
  [INFO] Finished at: 2016-09-19T14:08:14+02:00
  [INFO] Final Memory: 11M/152M
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  </code></pre>
  <p>My problem is, that the maven release plugin has so much configuration tags, but no documentation for git. + I never worked with svn and im new to Git.</p>
  <p>A solution for my problem would be good, a good usage article for maven release plugin with git would be the best.</p>
  <p><strong>EDIT 1:</strong>@khmarbaise:
  This is the git output w´hen i make a mvn release:prepare and an release:perform (including the changes from khmarbaises first comment.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/3Emyb.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/3Emyb.png" alt="Git output after first comment of khmarbaise" /></a></p>
  <p>The dark blue SO commit markes a release started from master branch, the light blue from develop.</p>
  <p>The pom after changes:</p>
  <pre><code>&lt;project&gt;
  ...
      &lt;scm&gt;
          &lt;connection&gt;scm:git:file:///D:/Dev/gitremotetest/testpp&lt;/connection&gt;
          &lt;developerConnection&gt;scm:git:file:///D:/Dev/gitremotetest/testpp&lt;/developerConnection&gt;
          &lt;tag&gt;HEAD&lt;/tag&gt;
      &lt;/scm&gt;
  ...
      &lt;build&gt;
          &lt;plugins&gt;
              &lt;plugin&gt;
                  &lt;groupId&gt;org.apache.maven.plugins&lt;/groupId&gt;
                  &lt;artifactId&gt;maven-release-plugin&lt;/artifactId&gt;
                  &lt;version&gt;2.5.3&lt;/version&gt;
                  &lt;configuration&gt;
                      &lt;branchName&gt;develop&lt;/branchName&gt;
                      &lt;pushChanges&gt;false&lt;/pushChanges&gt;
                      &lt;localCheckout&gt;true&lt;/localCheckout&gt;
                  &lt;/configuration&gt;
              &lt;/plugin&gt;
          &lt;/plugins&gt;
      &lt;/build&gt;
  ...
  &lt;/project&gt;
  </code></pre>
  <p>My target outcome is:</p>
  <p>start the release from develop commit the tag with the release version to master branch and commit the next development version to the develop branch.
  (I think this should be a common outcome for a release)</p>
  <p><strong>EDIT 2:</strong> @CptS:
  If i start a jgitflow:start-release i get this Info:</p>
  <pre><code>[INFO] --- jgitflow-maven-plugin:1.0-m5.1:release-start (default-cli) @ testb ---
  [WARNING] ..oo00 ---- WARNING ---- 00oo..
  [WARNING] core.autocrlf is set to true but is NOT supported by JGit or JGitFlow!
  [WARNING] 00oo.. you have been warned 00oo..
  </code></pre>
  <p>And the Corp i work for uses this setting.</p>
  <p><strong>EDIT 3</strong>:
  I have choosen the JGitFlow Plugin for my usage. (Under 1 minute to configure and use.)</p>