Since April 2009, the German forces in northern Afghanistan had been under pressure from the Taliban and the Islamic Jihad Union.

[1] The Bundeswehr prepared its Quick Reaction Force (QRF), equipped with Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Fuchs and Dingo APCs, as well as mortars.

[3] On July 31, German troops captured Qari Abdul Wadoud, the leader of the Taliban in the Imam Sahib District.

[1] On August 1 it was reported that Taliban forces reconquered the area in the Chahar Dara District of southern Kunduz.

The commander of the QRF, Hans-Christoph Grohmann, introduced one of his Officers as "the first Oberleutnant to lead an Infantry Company in to battle since 1945" to the press.