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The German guideline “Fracture Mechanics Proof of Strength forEngineering Components” was developed in a project of the Research Council of theGerman Mechanical Engineering Industry (FKM) to support designers and calculationengineers especially in small and medium-sized companies in solving fracture mechanicsproblems in their daily work. It covers the assessment of components under static loadingwith respect to crack initiation, stable crack growth, crack instability and plastic collapseand the assessment of components under cyclic loading with respect to fatigue strength andfatigue crack growth. The document is compatible to the European guideline SINTAPregarding the failure assessment procedures and to the British Standard 7910 regardingthe fatigue crack growth calculations. It is an addition to a guideline on proof of static andfatigue strength with conventional methods developed in another project of FKM. The FKMFracture Mechanics Guideline is applicable to components made of steel, cast iron andlight metal alloys at temperatures below creep temperature and to welded structures. It canbe applied during the design, fabrication or operational stages of the lifetime of acomponent. It can help in analysing component failures. The application of the FKMFracture Mechanics Guideline is demonstrated on many detailed case studies. Annexesinclude compendia of materials data, stress intensity factor and limit load solutions,recommended residual stress profiles and a description of the account for materialstrength-mismatch.