Major Shakeup For The German Military

German troops in Afghanistan, file photo

German Armed Forces Cut By One-Fifth In New Shake-Up -- Deutsche Welle

Germany's defense minister has announced plans for sweeping changes to how the country's armed forces operate. The plan includes a reduction of troop numbers by nearly one-fifth.

Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, will see troop numbers slashed by around 45,000 down to between 175,000 and 185,000, Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere announced in Berlin on Wednesday.

The cuts will see civilian positions reduced by 21,000 to 55,000, while personnel numbers overseas will rise from 7,000 to 10,000.

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More News On The German Military

Germany Plans Deep Cuts to Its Armed Forces -- New York Times
Germany to take scalpel to its top-heavy armed forces -- Irish Times
German Military To Cut Troops, Generals -- Defense News
Germany cuts forces but sees bigger international role -- Reuters
Germany details Bundeswehr reform -- UPI
German Defense Minister Warns Against Cuts as Army Overhauled -- Bloomberg
Shake-up planned for German armed forces, fewer generals -- M&C
Germany cuts armed forces -- TVNZ

Scandals Reveal Problems In The German Military

Members of the commission, who was ordered to investigate a reported mutiny on the training ship Gorch Fock (right), approach the vessel in Ushuaia January 27, 2011

Scandals Shake Germany's Faith In Its Military -- Time Magazine

It all started in November, when a young German sailor fell to her death from the mast of a naval training ship. Since then, a flurry of scandals have emerged from within Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, including allegations of a cover-up surrounding the death of a soldier in Afghanistan and revelations of the unauthorized opening of private mail sent home by German troops serving abroad. As Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg launches a wide-ranging inquiry, the affair has raised awkward questions over the Bundeswehr's training practices and leadership structures, and tarnished the reputation of the country's military.

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My Comment: This does not reflect well on the German military. There is clearly a problem .... and one that should be investigated and resolved ASAP.

Germany's Last Conscripts Report For Duty

Germany's Last Conscripts Report For Military Service -- Deutsche Welle

The last batch of recruits have been drafted to do their military service. From July, conscription will be officially suspended and the German armed forces will become a professional army.

After more than 50 years of conscription, the last group of 12,150 men was drafted into the German army, the Bundeswehr, on Monday. By dint of their age, their draft papers had already been sent out when the cabinet decided to phase out military service.

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More News On Germany's Last Military Conscripts

Germany calls up last conscripts as army is reformed -- BBC
Germany's last military conscripts report for duty -- Expatica
Last Bundeswehr conscripts report for duty -- The Local
The German Draft, Dodged For Good -- World Policy

My Comment: I wonder how many of these men would still stick with the military if given the option to leave.

Changes In The German Military Are Coming

Germany's defense minister wants to shrink the country's army
from 252,000 to 165,000 soldiers. ddp

Will The German Army Drop The Draft? -- Time Magazine

Ending months of speculation, Germany's Defense Minister has outlined a radical plan to restructure the country's armed forces that includes a controversial proposal to end the draft.

If enacted, the changes to the size and structure of German troops will be among the most far-reaching reforms by any member of NATO since the end of the Cold War. At the center of the package of proposals, outlined by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Monday, are plans to reduce troop strength to 163,000 from the current force of about 252,000; make the armed forces — known as the Bundeswehr — less top-heavy by cutting some of the nine existing command centers; and close many of the 403 military bases. The reform also calls for ending conscription and transforming the Bundeswehr into a more professional organization made up of fewer better-trained, better-paid soldiers working with the right equipment to meet today's security needs.

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More News On The German Military

Lean and Mean? German Armed Forces to be Restructured -- DefPro
German military may drop draft -- Space War
German Defense Sec'y: Reduce Force to 163,500 -- Defense News
German military may drop draft -- UPI
Germany Weighs the Elimination of Conscription -- Spiegel Online
Germany Considers Major Restructuring of Military -- Voice of America
German defence minister wants to shrink army -- Reuters
German minister wants to suspend conscription and reduce army -- Irish Times
Plan to Suspend Military Draft Opposed by Some Lawmakers in Merkel's Bloc -- Bloomberg
Former defense minister, chief of staff slam Bundeswehr budget cuts -- Deutsche Welle
Germany debates ending the draft -- Krista Kapralos, Global Post

The German Military Faces Structural Changes

German army Bundeswehr soldiers stand in front of the coffin of killed German Corporal Sergej Motz of the ISAF- International Security Assistance Force (Reuters)

A Mission To Modernize Germany’s Armed Forces -- New York Times

BERLIN — On Friday, the German defense minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, is set to present to Chancellor Angela Merkel his plans to modernize the Bundeswehr, the country’s armed forces. From all accounts, it could be one of the most radical and long overdue shake-ups undertaken in decades by a defense minister.

The Bundeswehr’s leadership structure, which has changed little since the Cold War, will be streamlined. The armed forces, which number 250,000, will be cut by well over 60,000. Many of the 406 barracks and military buildings will be closed. And if Mr. Guttenberg has his way, conscription will be replaced by voluntary service.

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My Comment: I suspect that other countries will be looking at the reforms that Germany will impose on their arm forces .... the U.S. included.

The Decline Of The German Military To A Shadow Of It's Former Self

Graphic: Declining conscription numbers in Germany

German Military Reform Could Halve Ground Forces -- Spiegel Online

German Defense Minister Guttenberg favors a plan to reform the army by halving the number of ground troops and battle tanks, SPIEGEL has learned. His ministry is due to present a reform plan in autumn in a bid to cut costs and boost the army's effectiveness.

Germany's ground forces would be almost halved under a reform plan favored by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, SPIEGEL has learned.

An internal paper suggests cutting the army from 95,000 soldiers to 54,558. The number of battle tanks would also be reduced by almost half. The strength of the infantry would remain almost unchanged at around 10,000 troops.

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My Comment: Much of the news has focused on military budget cutbacks in the U.S. and Britain .... but they are not the only one who have these problems. Germany .... Europe's #1 economy .... has problems that makes England's and the American's small in comparison.

German Troops Suffer From The Same Equipment Problems As The British In Afghanistan

A CH-53 Military Helicopter in Afghanistan.

German Troops Bemoan 'Critical' Deficits in Training and Equipment -- Der Spiegel

Damning reports are emerging from Germany's military forces in Afghanistan, claiming that cooperation with civilian agencies is abysmal, equipment is lacking and training is insufficient. With the US preparing to pressure Berlin to send more troops, there are now increasing calls for "urgent improvements."

German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung is not a big fan of change. When he speaks about the Bundeswehr, Germany's military forces, and their missions abroad, he has a tendency to always use the same expressions. They seem to somehow keep him grounded.

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My Comment: And I thought that it was the British who were poorly equipped.