In German, it is distinguished between "Rente" and "Ruhegehalt", both of which can be translated by pension:

• Rente (Pension)
• Ruhegehalt (Pension)

Statutory pension insurance is part of Germany´s social security system. This pension scheme ensures old-age provision for employees subject to collective agreements and employees not subject to collective agreements when they reach the statutory retirement age. Statutory pension insurance regulations are outlined in Social Security Code VI. Under certain conditions, employees are entitled to additional old-age and surviving dependents`benefits, provided that they pay a share in the contribution (company pension scheme).

More information on pension schemes for employees can be found on the homepage of Deutsche Rentenversicherung.

When professors with a civil servant status reach retirement age, they are paid the Ruhegehalt (pension) that is subject to the Gesetz über die Versorgung der Beamten und Richter des Bundes (Act on Benefits for Civil Servants and Judges of the Federal Republic of Germany) and the corresponding Civil Service Benefits Acts of the federal states.

More information in German can be found on the website of Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung Baden-Württemberg (LBV, State Office for Salaries and Pensions) under "Themen", "Ruhestand", "Beamte".