This chapter offers a brief historical overview of Germany’s weapons industry and arms exports from the 1950s to the 1990s, with a focus on the naval arms industry. It also provides an overview of the legal framework and governmental approval processes. Since 1949, German governments have emphasized promoting human rights, multilateralism, and peaceful conflict management. Nevertheless, Germany has developed into one of the world’s leading suppliers of weapon systems. German arms exports are particularly focused on maritime weapon systems. German governments have found it easier to justify exporting these systems. However, Germany’s arms export policy is inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. Rather than following an overarching strategy, it evolves on a case-by-case basis. Controversial decisions are made in the Federal Security Council (Bundessicherheitsrat) and mainly involve the Chancellery, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Federal Foreign Office, and the Ministry of Defense.