German Chief of Staff sacked for doubting Ukraine's army last year

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Mar 2023 20:14
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The German general drew severe criticism at the time.

German General Eberhard Zorn (German Army)

The newly assigned German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius issued an order, sacking the country's Chief of Defense Staff, General Eberhard Zorn, following remarks he made last year questioning Ukraine's ability to establish major land gains against the Russian forces, AFP reported on Monday, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense.

Major General Carsten Breuer was appointed as his successor, the report added.

63-year-old General Zorn, who has been military chief since 2018, said during an interview for Focus Magazine in September 2022 that Ukraine was preparing for "counter-attacks, with which one can win back places or individual areas of the frontlines, but not push Russia back over a broad front."

Zorn brought up concerns that Moscow, despite its war in Ukraine, is able to open a second battlefront, having "Kaliningrad, the Baltic Sea, the Finnish border, Georgia, Moldova" as possible targets.

The general also said that most of Russia's armed forces "still have unbound capacities," adding that if "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin orders a general mobilization, he would also have no personal problem."

His comments drew backlash and harsh criticism, including one from the former commanding general of the US Army Europe Ben Hodges, who described Zorn's statements as a "stunningly poor analysis of Russian capabilities," adding that this "reflects much of the German 'elite' thinking."

Stunningly poor analysis of Russian capabilities that unfortunately reflects much of the German “elite” thinking.

Finland alone would crush Russian forces. Lithuania/Poland would smother Kaliningrad in a week. Russian Navy hiding behind Crimea even though Ukraine has no Navy. https://t.co/7QtqYAZPSZ
— Ben Hodges (@general_ben) September 15, 2022

Media reports revealed that the former chief will be given an early retirement starting Thursday.

His successor, Breuer, 59, served during the Covid pandemic as the Head of Germany's Corona Crisis Unit from November 2021 until May 2022.

It is worth noting that Pistorius was assigned as the Defense Minister last January, following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht after a series of gaffes raised concerns about her capacity to lead the country in revitalizing its long-neglected military forces amid the Ukraine crisis and accusations that she was mishandling the country's defense policies and addressing the war in Ukraine lightly.