Germany’s Military Evolution: From Concept to Reality

Contents

Read on one page Contents

1. Page 1The turning point only exists on paper

2. Page 2Rules and regulations hinder faster procurement

3. Page 3It will take many years before Germany is ready for defence

New tanks, new air defense systems, new combat aircraft. After the Russian attack on Ukraine, the German army should quickly become ready for defense. The responsible minister, Boris Pistorius, even speaks of being ready for war. The federal government set aside a special fund of 100 billion euros for this purpose. And the Defense Ministry has also ordered several large weapons systems. But the efforts and expenditure to date are far from sufficient, say political scientists and economists from Kiel. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) has examined the German rearmament efforts and presents the report this Monday evening Ready for war in decades: Europe and Germany’s slow rearmament against Russia.

The Kiel government’s conclusion is unlikely to please the German government: “Despite the rhetoric of a turning point, the gap between the military capabilities of Germany and Russia continues to widen. The traffic light government’s spending on the Bundeswehr is completely inadequate in view of the current threat from Russia and after decades of disarmament.”

The troop is much smaller today than it was 20 years ago

At the current pace of procurement, Germany would need almost 100 years to reach the level of tanks, jets and ships that the Bundeswehr had 20 years ago. This is due on the one hand to the drastic disarmament of the past decades, and on the other hand to the far too slow and frugal rearmament under the traffic light government, the Kiel-based government states.

In 2004, the troops had 432 combat aircraft, but before the war in Ukraine there were only 226. And this number will drop drastically because the old Tornado fighter jets, of which there are currently a good 90, are being replaced by 35 new F-35 jets. The number of battle tanks has shrunk even more drastically: 2,398 became 339 by 2021.

Today there are even fewer because the Bundeswehr has given 18 to Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense has ordered 123 in two tranches, most recently in July 2024. By 2030, “the new battle tanks will be in service with the troops,” the ministry said. The Leopard 2 A8s ordered will “contribute to achieving full equipment and modernization of the armored troops, improving their sustainability and thus also achieving combat readiness.” They are intended primarily for a new brigade that is being set up in Lithuania.

The Kiel experts doubt that the Bundeswehr is in the process of becoming war-ready. There is a large discrepancy between official statements from the Federal Cabinet and the figures from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. “From the Federal Government’s point of view, a lot has probably happened – 100 billion euros have been made available and Ukraine has been supported – but that is not enough,” says Guntram Wolff, the main author of the report, in an interview with ZEIT ONLINE. He is calling on the Federal Government and the Bundeswehr to produce an analysis of what Germany needs in terms of military resources and how weapons and material can be quickly delivered to the troops. “But such an armament strategy does not exist, or at least is not being presented publicly,” criticizes Wolff. “The expansion of production capacities in Germany will only take place if there are long-term and credible budgets for armaments orders. The current German budget does not provide this.”

The figures from Kiel also show that the German government is currently only just managing to replace the weapons handed over to Ukraine. The stock of air defense systems and mobile launch units such as rocket artillery and howitzers is declining significantly, the report states. “It was not until 2023, a good year after Russia’s attack, that Germany began to increase its defense spending to any significant extent and to exceed NATO’s 2 percent target.”

Here ⁤are⁤ some People Also Ask (PAA) questions related to the title **”Germany’s Rearmament Efforts: ⁤A Long and Challenging Journey”**:

Germany’s⁤ Rearmament Efforts: A Long and Challenging Journey

After the Russian attack on ‌Ukraine, Germany’s rearmament efforts have gained significant attention. Chancellor Olaf Scholz ​has ⁣met the target of raising ⁣the defense budget to 2%‌ of GDP by 2024 [[1]]. However, the long-term‌ financing of this effort remains a challenge. Germany’s rearmament is a complex and slow process, and many experts ​believe that the country is far from being ready for defense.

The Turning Point⁤ Only Exists on Paper

Despite⁤ the rhetoric of a turning point, the gap‍ between Germany’s military ​capabilities and Russia’s continues⁢ to widen. The Kiel Institute for ⁣the⁤ World Economy (IfW)‌ has examined Germany’s rearmament efforts and concluded that the traffic light government’s ⁤spending on the Bundeswehr is completely inadequate in view‍ of the current threat from Russia and after‌ decades of disarmament.

Rules and Regulations Hinder ⁢Faster Procurement

The procurement process in Germany is slow and frugal, hindered by ⁣rules and regulations. The Ministry of Defense has ‍ordered several large⁣ weapons systems, but the delivery process is taking ‌too long. For example, the ⁣Ministry of​ Defense has ordered 123 battle tanks, ⁢but they‌ will only be in ​service​ by 2030. The expansion of production capacities in Germany will only take place if the government invests more in the defense industry.

It Will Take Many Years‌ Before Germany is Ready for Defense

At the current pace of procurement, Germany would need almost 100⁢ years to reach the level ‍of tanks, jets, and ships that the Bundeswehr had 20 years ago. This is due to the drastic ‌disarmament of the past decades and the slow ‍rearmament under the traffic light government. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy has presented a report, “Ready for war in⁢ decades: Europe and Germany’s slow rearmament against Russia.” The report highlights the need for a comprehensive armament strategy, which currently does not exist.

Germany’s Zeitenwende: An Underfunded Military Rearmament

Germany’s rearmament efforts are underfunded and lacking a political strategy.‍ After decades of free-riding on US security guarantees, Germany is now trying to catch up with its military capabilities. ⁣However, the⁣ efforts and expenditure to ‌date are far from sufficient. The country ​needs a comprehensive ​armament strategy to quickly deliver​ weapons and‌ material⁣ to the​ troops.

Conclusion

Germany’s rearmament efforts are a complex and challenging journey. Despite the rhetoric of a turning point, the gap between Germany’s military capabilities and⁣ Russia’s continues to widen. The country needs a comprehensive armament strategy and more investment in the defense industry to quickly‌ deliver weapons and ⁣material to the troops. The Kiel Institute ​for⁣ the World Economy has presented a⁢ report that highlights the need for a more comprehensive ‌approach ⁤to ​Germany’s rearmament efforts.

References:

<a‍ href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/02/18/german-rearmament-a-long-term-undertaking65356934.html”>[1]

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Here are some People Also Ask (PAA) questions related to the title **Germany’s Rearmament Efforts: A Long and Challenging Journey**:

Germany’s Rearmament Efforts: A Long and Challenging Journey

Contents

1. The Troop is Much Smaller Today Than It Was 20 Years Ago
2. Here are Some People Also Ask (PAA) Questions Related to the Title “Germany’s Rearmament Efforts: A Long and Challenging Journey”

The Troop is Much Smaller Today Than It Was 20 Years Ago

Germany’s rearmament efforts have been a topic of discussion for years, with many calling for the country to increase its military capabilities in the face of growing global threats. However, despite the rhetoric of a turning point, the gap between Germany’s military capabilities and those of Russia continues to widen. The slow pace of procurement and inadequate spending on the Bundeswehr have hindered Germany’s ability to modernize its military.

A History of Rearmament Efforts

Germany’s rearmament efforts can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the country began to rebuild its military after World War I. In the 1920s and 1930s, Germany’s military was rapidly expanded and modernized, with the country becoming one of the most powerful military forces in Europe <