Defense commissioner admits German army incapacity
Eva Högl, the defense commissioner of the German Bundestag announced that the German army faces significant deiciencies in terms of equipment, a problem that has worsened given the contact support for Kiev.
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Soldiers follow a Marder infantry fighting vehicle during a demonstration event held for the media by the German Bundeswehr in Bergen near Hannover, Germany, on Sept. 28, 2011 (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
The defense commissioner of the German Bundestag, Eva Högl, announced days before taking charge as commander of NATO's Rapid Reaction Force, that the Bundeswehr (armed forces) has crucial equipment deficiencies.
Högl stated to the Rheinische Post and the Bonn General-Anzeiger that there is a scarcity of "personal equipment such as helmets, backpacks, protective vests, as well as small and large equipment - from radios, ammunition, to tanks," adding that "the Bundeswehr has too little of almost everything."
According to the commissioner, Germany has acknowledged and recognized the need to "equip our soldiers better and improve their framework conditions in order to restore full operational readiness," said Högl, who cited the 100 billion euro special budget for the Modernization of the German Armed Forces as an example.
Significantly, the defense commissioner and NATO commander noted that Germany has worsened the situation for its army following the Russian Special Operation in Ukraine "because a lot has been given away in support of Ukraine but nothing has been replaced yet."
German army incapable of carrying out NATO duties: Berlin
A secret report prepared by the German Ministry of Defense and handed over to the Defense Committee in the Bundestag revealed that the country's military was suffering from a lack of arms, equipment, and operations.
The report said the German military could only sufficiently carry out its NATO duties only within a certain scope, as it is facing extreme hardship in fulfilling its commitments to the alliance.
The German navy would not even be able to send a ship to the UN mission off Lebanon's coasts, the report added.
The report rapped the financial situation and the training within the German army, saying they were both in bad shape while clarifying that the heavy equipment and weapons they had were old and needed reparations. "There is a deficit in the munition and basic military equipment. There is not enough thermal underwear for the servicemen."
The report also highlighted various problems that the German military was facing, such as the problems that the weapons, air defense systems, and high-tech communication systems on warships, stressing the need for operational preparedness within the armed forces.
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