Germany's government embarks on an overhaul of its armed forces in response to increased threats from Russia in Europe, aiming to make the Bundeswehr more agile, efficient, and combat-ready.

Overhaul of Germany's Armed Forces

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announces a plan to restructure the German armed forces, signaling a change and aiming to optimize preparedness for emergencies and war.

Long-Awaited Plan for Restructuring

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the German government vows to increase funding for its armed forces and introduce structural efficiency, including a new central command and a dedicated cyber department.

Increased Funding and Structural Efficiency

A clear message is sent to defend the country and alliance partners, addressing the need for preparedness and support on the Eastern flank.

Defending Country and Alliance Partners

The German defence minister's efforts to make the Bundeswehr fit for the change promised after Russia's invasion of Ukraine are seen as a necessary first step, with details to be worked out.

Making Bundeswehr Fit for Change

The restructuring of the Bundeswehr is discussed in the context of adapting to new security threats, emphasizing the need for a different structure and tasks in response to current geopolitical situations.

Adapting to New Security Threats

The challenge of recruiting and the potential reintroduction of conscription are discussed in relation to the need for combat readiness and addressing the Bundeswehr's image problem.

Challenges in Recruiting and Conscription

The proposed reform is seen as insufficient in addressing the lack of munitions and faulty equipment, highlighting the need for additional funding and long-term budget planning.

Addressing Lack of Munitions and Funding

The financial challenges and political implications of securing additional funding for the armed forces are discussed, with a focus on potential divisions within the government and the upcoming election year.

Financial Challenges and Political Unity

The shifting attitudes toward the armed forces in Germany are highlighted, signaling a potential change in support for the armed forces despite the challenges of securing increased funding.

Shifting Attitudes Toward Armed Forces

**Germany's Armed Forces Overhaul**

*Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is looking to streamline the country's military command.*

With numerous conflicts raging around the world and a perceived increased threat from Russia in Europe, Germany's government is embarking on an overhaul of its armed forces. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is looking to streamline the country's military command. Pistorius says the aim of the shake-up is to make the Bundeswehr more agile, more efficient, and more combat-ready. It's a first important step to make Germany's military more combat-ready.

**Restructuring the German Armed Forces**

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced a long-awaited plan to restructure the German armed forces. The aim is to make the Bundeswehr more combat-ready in the event of an emergency or war. This comes after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting the German government to increase funding for its armed forces and make them structurally more efficient.

**The Future of the Bundeswehr**

The restructuring will include a new central command and a dedicated cyber department. The goal is to make Germany, in the words of the defense minister, war-capable. The reform, however, does not address the Bundeswehr's problems with understaffing or the need for more funding.

**Expert Analysis**

Thomas Wiegald, a journalist and expert on security and defense policy, believes that the structural reform is a necessary first step for the Bundeswehr after more than 20 years of overseas missions. However, he also notes that the overhaul is not simply a return to the structures of Cold War West Germany, as the current security threats in Europe require a different approach.

**Challenges Ahead**

The Bundeswehr faces challenges in recruiting and retaining personnel, as well as the lack of munitions and faulty equipment. While the proposed reform addresses structural issues, it does not directly tackle these fundamental problems. Additionally, the defense minister's request for an additional 6.5 billion euros in 2025 is expected to test the unity of Germany's government, especially in an election year.

**Shifting Attitudes**

Despite these challenges, there is a shift in the attitude toward the armed forces in Germany. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is currently the most popular politician in the country, indicating a changing perspective on the Bundeswehr. However, whether this shift will translate into increased funding remains to be seen.

As the Bundeswehr undergoes structural reforms, the challenges of recruitment, funding, and equipment remain pressing issues. The future of Germany's armed forces will depend on the government's ability to address these challenges and ensure the readiness of the Bundeswehr in the face of evolving security threats.

"Germany's Military Overhaul: What You Need to Know"

To address the Bundeswehr's problems with understaffing

To make the Bundeswehr more agile, efficient, and combat-ready

To reorganize the Bundeswehr's structures for overseas missions

A new central command and a dedicated cyber department

A plan to address the lack of munitions and faulty equipment

It is a complete return to the structures of Cold War West Germany

It is a partial return to the structures of Cold War West Germany

It is a complete departure from the structures of Cold War West Germany

It is a return to the structures of the Warsaw Pact

The lack of munitions and faulty equipment

The lack of specialists in the armed forces

- Germany's government is overhauling its armed forces to make them more agile, efficient, and combat-ready
- The restructuring includes a new central command and a dedicated cyber department
- The reform does not address issues of understaffing or the need for more funding
- There is uncertainty about reintroducing conscription and securing additional funding for the armed forces
- The proposed reform does not address the lack of munitions and faulty equipment
- The request for an additional 6.5 billion euros for 2025 may test the unity of Germany's government, especially in an election year
- The popularity of the defense minister reflects a shifting attitude towards the armed forces in Germany, but it remains to be seen if this will translate into increased support and funding.

Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans for a major restructuring of the military on Thursday.
The changes include the establishment of a fourth branch of the armed forces that specializes in cyber warfare, which will operate alongside the army, the air force and the navy.
The expanded Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIR) will be tasked with fending off cyberattacks, protecting electronic infrastructure and analyzing disinformation and other hybrid threats.
It's the latest step in an overhaul of the German army, or Bundeswehr, that was launched in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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#germany #bundeswehr #military

With numerous conflicts raging around the world and a perceived increased threat from Russia in Europe, Germany's government is embarking on an overhaul of its armed forces.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is looking to streamline the country's military command.

Pistorius says the aim of the shake-up is to make the Bundeswehr more agile, more efficient and more combat-ready.

It's a first important step to make Germany's military more combat-ready.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced a long-awaited plan to restructure the German armed forces.

Our common goal is to reorganize the Bundeswehr's structures so that it is optimally prepared in the event of an emergency, if it needs to defend us in the event of war."

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the German government vowed to increase funding for its long-neglected armed forces, while also making them structurally more efficient.

The Bundeswehr of the future will have a new central command and a dedicated cyber department.

The restructuring is meant to make Germany, in the words of the defense minister, war capable.

We all know that the security threats in Europe have intensified.

It must be clear to everyone that we are defending our country and our alliance partners, and that with this step we are also making it clear that no 1 should even think of attacking us as NATO territory."

What the reform doesn't do is address the Bundeswehr's problems with understaffing or the need for more funding.

He's a journalist and expert on security and defence policy.

Now, the German defence minister wants to make the Bundeswehr fit for the change that Chancellor Schultz promised after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Are today's announcements going to get it there?

It's structural reform which is necessary after more than 20 years of overseas missions.

It's going back to fighting forces for Europe.

That's what the Bundeswehr has to be ready for.

And whether this works, we'll see maybe in a year or so.

All the details are still to be worked out.

And so far we know the very rough outline.

Some experts have said that in a number of aspects this overhaul is a return to the Bundeswehr structures of Cold War West Germany.

Is turning to the past the right way to make Germany's army future-proof, you think?

It's only partially returning to what we had 30 years ago.

You have to see then we had the Warsaw Pact and NATO with confrontation lines in Germany.

So Germans had to be prepared to fight within their own country.

Now we have a completely different situation.

Germany has to be prepared to support allies on the Eastern flank, namely in the Baltics or maybe in Poland, maybe even on the south-eastern flank in Romania or Bulgaria.

That's a different scenario, that are different tasks, that need a different structure and a different Bundeswehr.

So no, it's not easily a return to the past.

A different Bundeswehr and possibly a beefed up Bundeswehr, right?

In order to make the German forces combat ready, they'll have to find a way to get more people to join.

But At this point, the Bundeswehr has a huge image problem inside the country.

How likely do you think the government is to reintroduce conscription?

We have to separate this conscription issue from getting the Bundeswehr combat ready.

It seems pretty easy to reintroduce conscription just to beef up the numbers.

However, first of all, the Bundeswehr has to come clear.

Do they want just to add to the existing numbers or do they need specialists?

Do they need a reserve, which they surely do?

And what can conscription do to solve this problem?

So the second point is, the structure announced today that something the defence minister can do on his own.

He has the authority to do so, but to reintroduce conscription he needs allies in the Bundestag, in the parliament.

He needs allies in the coalition and that's much more difficult.

Well let's look at another ongoing struggle then in Germany's armed forces, which is the lack of munitions, faulty equipment.

Is this proposed reform addressing this utterly fundamental issue?

Definitely what the Bundeswehr needs besides structural reform is money.

And we'll see how this will work out in the future.

At the moment, the special fund, the 100 billion euros, is still active.

But in a few years' time, this money will be spent.

And then we have the promise of the chancellor that Germany will stick to the 2% of GDP pledge for the coming years, for the time to be.

That means even when the special fund runs out, Germany will have to raise the budget And we'll have the first problem clearing this in the coming months when we're talking about the budget for next year.

Pistorius today said he needs an additional 6.5 billion euros and we'll see whether he's going to get it.

How far do you think that request, those 6.5 billion euros that Pistorius wants for 2025, is going to test the unity of Germany's already very divided government, and 2025 is an election year?

This will be really a problem, and we will see how the finance minister will position himself.

He's from the Free Democrats, And he had the idea that welfare cuts, cuts in social spending, might be a tool for financing the armed forces.

This quite sure won't fly in pre-election year in Germany.

Now, looking at Pistorius, the defence minister, as a personality in the German political spectrum, he is the most popular politician in Germany right now.

What does that tell you, you think, about a country which has, you know, a rather lukewarm, problematic at times, relationship with its armed forces.

I think that's a clear signal that for Germans or in Germany, the stance, the attitude toward the armed forces is shifting.

For years, they were considered as something you have no connection with, especially since conscription has been abolished.

Most average Germans had no contact with soldiers whatsoever.

So that's changing and quite probably we'll see a situation where there's more support for the armed forces in Germany.

Whether this translates into much more money, That's a different thing.

And we'll bring you back in to talk about that once it materializes.

As always, Thomas Wiegand, journalist and expert on security and defence policy.


Speaker 0: With numerous conflicts raging around the world and a perceived increased threat from Russia in Europe, Germany's government is embarking on an overhaul of its armed forces. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is looking to streamline the country's military command. Pistorius says the aim of the shake-up is to make the Bundeswehr more agile, more efficient and more combat-ready.

Speaker 1: It's a first important step to make Germany's military more combat-ready. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced a long-awaited plan to restructure the German armed forces.

Speaker 2: Today is a signal of change. Our common goal is to reorganize the Bundeswehr's structures so that it is optimally prepared in the event of an emergency, if it needs to defend us in the event of war."

Speaker 1: After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the German government vowed to increase funding for its long-neglected armed forces, while also making them structurally more efficient. The Bundeswehr of the future will have a new central command and a dedicated cyber department. The restructuring is meant to make Germany, in the words of the defense minister, war capable.

Speaker 2: We all know that the security threats in Europe have intensified. It must be clear to everyone that we are defending our country and our alliance partners, and that with this step we are also making it clear that no 1 should even think of attacking us as NATO territory."

Speaker 1: What the reform doesn't do is address the Bundeswehr's problems with understaffing or the need for more funding.

Speaker 0: Let's bring in Thomas Wiegald. He's a journalist and expert on security and defence policy. Thomas, good to have you on the date. Now, the German defence minister wants to make the Bundeswehr fit for the change that Chancellor Schultz promised after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Are today's announcements going to get it there?

Speaker 3: Well, it's a first step. It's structural reform which is necessary after more than 20 years of overseas missions. It's going back to fighting forces for Europe. That's what the Bundeswehr has to be ready for. And whether this works, we'll see maybe in a year or so.

All the details are still to be worked out. And so far we know the very rough outline.

Speaker 0: Some experts have said that in a number of aspects this overhaul is a return to the Bundeswehr structures of Cold War West Germany. Is turning to the past the right way to make Germany's army future-proof, you think?

Speaker 3: It's only partially returning to what we had 30 years ago. You have to see then we had the Warsaw Pact and NATO with confrontation lines in Germany. So Germans had to be prepared to fight within their own country. Now we have a completely different situation. Germany has to be prepared to support allies on the Eastern flank, namely in the Baltics or maybe in Poland, maybe even on the south-eastern flank in Romania or Bulgaria.

That's a different scenario, that are different tasks, that need a different structure and a different Bundeswehr. So no, it's not easily a return to the past.

Speaker 0: A different Bundeswehr and possibly a beefed up Bundeswehr, right? In order to make the German forces combat ready, they'll have to find a way to get more people to join. But At this point, the Bundeswehr has a huge image problem inside the country. How likely do you think the government is to reintroduce conscription?

Speaker 3: We have to separate this conscription issue from getting the Bundeswehr combat ready. It seems pretty easy to reintroduce conscription just to beef up the numbers. However, first of all, the Bundeswehr has to come clear. Do they want just to add to the existing numbers or do they need specialists? Do they need a reserve, which they surely do?

And what can conscription do to solve this problem? So the second point is, the structure announced today that something the defence minister can do on his own. He has the authority to do so, but to reintroduce conscription he needs allies in the Bundestag, in the parliament. He needs allies in the coalition and that's much more difficult.

Speaker 0: Well let's look at another ongoing struggle then in Germany's armed forces, which is the lack of munitions, faulty equipment. It's made headlines over and over again. Is this proposed reform addressing this utterly fundamental issue?

Speaker 3: No it's not. Definitely what the Bundeswehr needs besides structural reform is money. And we'll see how this will work out in the future. At the moment, the special fund, the 100 billion euros, is still active. But in a few years' time, this money will be spent.

And then we have the promise of the chancellor that Germany will stick to the 2% of GDP pledge for the coming years, for the time to be. That means even when the special fund runs out, Germany will have to raise the budget And we'll have the first problem clearing this in the coming months when we're talking about the budget for next year. Pistorius today said he needs an additional 6.5 billion euros and we'll see whether he's going to get it.

Speaker 0: How far do you think that request, those 6.5 billion euros that Pistorius wants for 2025, is going to test the unity of Germany's already very divided government, and 2025 is an election year?

Speaker 3: This will be really a problem, and we will see how the finance minister will position himself. He's from the Free Democrats, And he had the idea that welfare cuts, cuts in social spending, might be a tool for financing the armed forces. This quite sure won't fly in pre-election year in Germany.

Speaker 0: Now, looking at Pistorius, the defence minister, as a personality in the German political spectrum, he is the most popular politician in Germany right now. What does that tell you, you think, about a country which has, you know, a rather lukewarm, problematic at times, relationship with its armed forces.

Speaker 3: I think that's a clear signal that for Germans or in Germany, the stance, the attitude toward the armed forces is shifting. For years, they were considered as something you have no connection with, especially since conscription has been abolished. Most average Germans had no contact with soldiers whatsoever. So that's changing and quite probably we'll see a situation where there's more support for the armed forces in Germany. Whether this translates into much more money, That's a different thing.

Speaker 0: And we'll bring you back in to talk about that once it materializes. As always, Thomas Wiegand, journalist and expert on security and defence policy. Thank

Speaker 3: you

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Germany announces major military overhaul | DW News