diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/Chart.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/Chart.yaml
index 92eac6f..71ff421 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/Chart.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/Chart.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 apiVersion: v2
 description: Chart for MariaDB Galera cluster
 name: mariadb-galera
-version: 13.0.0
+version: 13.0.1
 keywords:
   - mariadb
   - mysql
@@ -39,4 +39,5 @@
     repository: 'file://../repositoryGenerator'
   - name: serviceAccount
     version: ~13.x-0
-    repository: 'file://../serviceAccount'
\ No newline at end of file
+    repository: 'file://../serviceAccount'
+    condition: global.mariadbGalera.enableServiceAccount
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/cronjob.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/cronjob.yaml
index e2a9ca6..4548626 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/cronjob.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/cronjob.yaml
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
+{{- if and .Values.backup.enabled .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
+{{ include "common.mariadbOpBackup" . }}
+{{ else }}
 {{- if and .Values.backup.enabled .Values.persistence.enabled }}
 apiVersion: batch/v1beta1
 kind: CronJob
@@ -180,3 +183,4 @@
             - name: tmp
               emptyDir: {}
 {{- end }}
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pv.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pv.yaml
index 30eb74b..d5e2610 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pv.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pv.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
+
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
 {{- if .Values.backup.enabled }}
 {{- if and .Values.backup.persistence.enabled (not .Values.backup.persistence.existingClaim) -}}
 {{- if eq "True" (include "common.needPV" .) -}}
@@ -41,3 +43,4 @@
 {{- end -}}
 {{- end -}}
 {{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pvc.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pvc.yaml
index 5dd8a3f..4c2bfcd 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pvc.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/backup/pvc.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
+
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
 {{- if .Values.backup.enabled }}
 {{- if and .Values.persistence.enabled (not .Values.persistence.existingClaim) }}
 ---
@@ -45,3 +47,4 @@
 {{- end -}}
 {{- end -}}
 {{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/configmap.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/configmap.yaml
index c95a234..0aa0a63 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/configmap.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/configmap.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,20 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
-{{ if .Values.mariadbConfiguration }}
+{{- if .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
+{{    if .Values.mariadbOpConfiguration }}
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: ConfigMap
+metadata:
+  name: {{ printf "%s-configuration" (include "common.fullname" .) }}
+  namespace: {{ include "common.namespace" . }}
+  labels: {{- include "common.labels" . | nindent 4 }}
+data:
+  my.cnf: |
+{{ .Values.mariadbOpConfiguration | indent 4 }}
+{{-   end }}
+{{- else }}
+{{    if .Values.mariadbConfiguration }}
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: ConfigMap
 metadata:
@@ -25,4 +38,5 @@
 data:
   my.cnf: |
 {{ .Values.mariadbConfiguration | indent 4 }}
+{{-   end }}
 {{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/mariadb.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/mariadb.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce09c9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/mariadb.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{{/*
+# Copyright © 2023 Deutsche Telekom AG
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+*/}}
+
+{{- if .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
+{{ include "common.mariadbOpInstance" . }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/metrics-svc.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/metrics-svc.yaml
index 841aab3..d37aeb1 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/metrics-svc.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/metrics-svc.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
-{{- if default false .Values.global.metrics.enabled }}
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
+{{-   if default false .Values.global.metrics.enabled }}
+---
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: Service
 metadata:
@@ -31,4 +33,5 @@
       port: {{ .Values.metrics.service.port }}
       targetPort: tcp-metrics
   selector: {{- include "common.matchLabels" . | nindent 4 }}
-{{- end }}
+{{-   end }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pdb.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pdb.yaml
index 1d9d414..734f03f 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pdb.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pdb.yaml
@@ -14,17 +14,19 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
-{{- if .Values.podDisruptionBudget.create }}
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
+{{-   if .Values.podDisruptionBudget.create }}
 apiVersion: policy/v1
 kind: PodDisruptionBudget
 metadata: {{- include "common.resourceMetadata" . | nindent 2 }}
 spec:
-{{- if .Values.podDisruptionBudget.minAvailable }}
+{{-     if .Values.podDisruptionBudget.minAvailable }}
   minAvailable: {{ .Values.podDisruptionBudget.minAvailable }}
-{{- end }}
-{{- if .Values.podDisruptionBudget.maxUnavailable }}
+{{-     end }}
+{{-     if .Values.podDisruptionBudget.maxUnavailable }}
   maxUnavailable: {{ .Values.podDisruptionBudget.maxUnavailable }}
-{{- end }}
+{{-     end }}
   selector:
     matchLabels: {{- include "common.matchLabels" . | nindent 6 }}
-{{- end }}
+{{-   end }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pv.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pv.yaml
index 54a02cf..129b5b2 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pv.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/pv.yaml
@@ -15,4 +15,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
 {{ include "common.replicaPV" . }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/service.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/service.yaml
index 6af9135..4cabde1 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/service.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/service.yaml
@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
 {{ include "common.service" . }}
 ---
 {{ include "common.headlessService" . }}
+{{- end }}
 {{- if (include "common.onServiceMesh" .) }}
-{{- if eq (default "istio" .Values.global.serviceMesh.engine) "istio" }}
+{{-   if eq (default "istio" .Values.global.serviceMesh.engine) "istio" }}
 ---
 apiVersion: security.istio.io/v1beta1
 kind: PeerAuthentication
@@ -29,9 +31,9 @@
 spec:
   selector:
     matchLabels:
-      app.kubernetes.io/name: {{ include "common.servicename" . }}
+      app: {{ include "common.servicename" . }}
   portLevelMtls:
     '{{ .Values.service.internalPort }}':
       mode: DISABLE
-{{- end}}
-{{- end}}
+{{-   end }}
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/servicemonitor.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/servicemonitor.yaml
index 6d1ed40..4cbf7b3 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/servicemonitor.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/servicemonitor.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
-{{- if .Values.metrics.serviceMonitor.enabled }}
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
+{{-   if .Values.metrics.serviceMonitor.enabled }}
 {{  include "common.serviceMonitor" . }}
-{{- end }}
+{{-   end }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/statefulset.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/statefulset.yaml
index c95b572..2f5b33f 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/statefulset.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/templates/statefulset.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 */}}
 
+{{- if not .Values.global.mariadbGalera.useOperator }}
 apiVersion: apps/v1
 kind: StatefulSet
 metadata: {{- include "common.resourceMetadata" . | nindent 2 }}
@@ -266,3 +267,4 @@
   volumeClaimTemplates:
     - {{ include "common.PVCTemplate" (dict "dot" . "suffix" "data" "persistenceInfos" .Values.persistence) | indent 6 | trim }}
 {{- end }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/values.yaml b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/values.yaml
index e9fe577..a749c09 100644
--- a/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/values.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/common/mariadb-galera/values.yaml
@@ -15,6 +15,25 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+#################################################################
+# Global configuration defaults.
+#################################################################
+global:
+  nodePortPrefix: 302
+  persistence:
+    mountPath: /dockerdata-nfs
+    backup:
+      mountPath: /dockerdata-nfs/backup
+  clusterDomain: cluster.local
+  metrics: {}
+  mariadbGalera:
+    # flag to enable the DB creation via mariadb-operator
+    useOperator: true
+    # if useOperator set to "true", set "enableServiceAccount to "false"
+    # as the SA is created by the Operator
+    enableServiceAccount: false
+    nameOverride: mariadb-galera
+    service: mariadb-galera
 
 #################################################################
 # Secrets metaconfig
@@ -35,21 +54,108 @@
     login: '{{ .Values.galera.mariabackup.user }}'
     password: '{{ .Values.galera.mariabackup.password }}'
 
+mariadbOperator:
+  image: mariadb
+  appVersion: 11.1.2
+  galera:
+    enabled: true
+    agentImage: mariadb-operator/agent
+    agentVersion: v0.0.2
+    initImage: mariadb-operator/init
+    initVersion: v0.0.5
+
+## String to partially override common.names.fullname template (will maintain the release name)
+##
+nameOverride: mariadb-galera
+
+## Custom db configuration
+##
+db:
+  ## MariaDB username and password
+  ## Password is ignored if externalSecret is specified.
+  ## If not set, password will be "randomly" generated
+  ## ref: https://github.com/bitnami/bitnami-docker-mariadb-galera#creating-a-database-user-on-first-run
+  ##
+  user: my-user
+  # password:
+  # externalSecret:
+  ## Database to create
+  ## ref: https://github.com/bitnami/bitnami-docker-mariadb-galera#creating-a-database-on-first-run
+  ##
+  # name: my_database
+
+## Desired number of cluster nodes
+##
+replicaCount: 3
+
+## Additional pod annotations for MariaDB Galera pods
+## ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/annotations/
+## -> here required to enable mariadb-galera in istio
+##
+podAnnotations:
+  #  sidecar.istio.io/inject: "false"
+  traffic.sidecar.istio.io/excludeInboundPorts: "4444,4567,4568"
+  traffic.sidecar.istio.io/includeInboundPorts: '*'
+  traffic.sidecar.istio.io/excludeOutboundPorts: "4444,4567,4568"
+
+mariadbOpConfiguration: |-
+  [mysqld]
+  max_allowed_packet=256M
+  lower_case_table_names = 1
+
+  ## Character set
+  collation_server=utf8_unicode_ci
+  init_connect='SET NAMES utf8'
+  character_set_server=utf8
+
+  ## MyISAM
+  key_buffer_size=32M
+  myisam_recover_options=FORCE,BACKUP
+
+  ## Safety
+  skip_host_cache
+  skip_name_resolve
+  max_allowed_packet=16M
+  max_connect_errors=1000000
+  sql_mode=STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,ERROR_FOR_DIVISION_BY_ZERO,NO_AUTO_CREATE_USER,NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION,NO_ZERO_DATE,NO_ZERO_IN_DATE,ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY
+  sysdate_is_now=1
+
+  ## Caches and Limits
+  tmp_table_size=32M
+  max_heap_table_size=32M
+  # Re-enabling as now works with Maria 10.1.2
+  query_cache_type=1
+  query_cache_limit=4M
+  query_cache_size=256M
+  max_connections=500
+  thread_cache_size=50
+  open_files_limit=65535
+  table_definition_cache=4096
+  table_open_cache=4096
+
+  ## InnoDB
+  innodb=FORCE
+  innodb_strict_mode=1
+  # Mandatory per https://github.com/codership/documentation/issues/25
+  innodb_autoinc_lock_mode=2
+  # Per https://www.percona.com/blog/2006/08/04/innodb-double-write/
+  innodb_doublewrite=1
+  innodb_flush_method=O_DIRECT
+  innodb_log_files_in_group=2
+  innodb_log_file_size=128M
+  innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit=1
+  innodb_file_per_table=1
+  # 80% Memory is default reco.
+  # Need to re-evaluate when DB size grows
+  innodb_buffer_pool_size=2G
+  innodb_file_format=Barracuda
+
+##########################################################################################
+# !!! the following configuration entries are ignored, when mariadbOperator is enabled !!!
+##########################################################################################
 # bitnami image doesn't support well single quote in password
 passwordStrengthOverride: basic
 
-#################################################################
-# Global configuration defaults.
-#################################################################
-global:
-  nodePortPrefix: 302
-  persistence:
-    mountPath: /dockerdata-nfs
-    backup:
-      mountPath: /dockerdata-nfs/backup
-  clusterDomain: cluster.local
-  metrics: {}
-
 image: bitnami/mariadb-galera:10.5.8
 ## Specify a imagePullPolicy
 ## Defaults to 'Always' if image tag is 'latest', else set to 'IfNotPresent'
@@ -66,10 +172,6 @@
 ## actions performed on the databases are tried to be done before actual start.
 init_sleep_time: 5
 
-## String to partially override common.names.fullname template (will maintain the release name)
-##
-nameOverride: mariadb-galera
-
 ## Use an alternate scheduler, e.g. "stork".
 ## ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/administer-cluster/configure-multiple-schedulers/
 ##
@@ -129,22 +231,6 @@
   # password:
   # externalSecret:
 
-## Custom db configuration
-##
-db:
-  ## MariaDB username and password
-  ## Password is ignored if externalSecret is specified.
-  ## If not set, password will be "randomly" generated
-  ## ref: https://github.com/bitnami/bitnami-docker-mariadb-galera#creating-a-database-user-on-first-run
-  ##
-  user: my-user
-  # password:
-  # externalSecret:
-  ## Database to create
-  ## ref: https://github.com/bitnami/bitnami-docker-mariadb-galera#creating-a-database-on-first-run
-  ##
-  # name: my_database
-
 ## Galera configuration
 ##
 galera:
@@ -212,7 +298,8 @@
 
 readinessCheck:
   wait_for:
-    - '{{ include "common.name" . }}'
+    apps:
+      - '{{ include "common.name" . }}'
 
 ## TLS configuration
 ##
@@ -368,26 +455,12 @@
 ##
 ## extraFlags: "--max-connect-errors=1000 --max_connections=155"
 
-## Desired number of cluster nodes
-##
-replicaCount: 3
-
 ## updateStrategy for MariaDB Master StatefulSet
 ## ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/workloads/controllers/statefulset/#update-strategies
 ##
 updateStrategy:
   type: RollingUpdate
 
-## Additional pod annotations for MariaDB Galera pods
-## ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/annotations/
-## -> here required to enable mariadb-galera in istio
-##
-podAnnotations:
-  #  sidecar.istio.io/inject: "false"
-  traffic.sidecar.istio.io/excludeInboundPorts: "4444,4567,4568"
-  traffic.sidecar.istio.io/includeInboundPorts: '*'
-  traffic.sidecar.istio.io/excludeOutboundPorts: "4444,4567,4568"
-
 ## Pod affinity preset
 ## ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/scheduling-eviction/assign-pod-node/#inter-pod-affinity-and-anti-affinity
 ## Allowed values: soft, hard