In 1994, Germany desperately needed a capability to rescue and evacuate it's citizens trapped in a foreign hot-spot environment. That capability became the German force known as the KSK (Kommando Spezialkrafte).
But the KSK is not only a hostage rescue and counter-terrorist unit. It is more of a special operations unit like the SAS or the US Green Berets. Among the special tasks given to the KSK are: Reconnaissance in crisis and conflict areas, including low-intensity and high-intensity conflict scenarios; The protection of personnel and locations against terrorist acts, defending German forces against enemy intelligence and undercover operations; Operations behind enemy lines to destroy strategic targets and paralyze the enemy.