16 mar 2023 9:02 p.m
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Högl, believes that the Bundeswehr’s 100 billion special fund, which was confirmed last year, is not sufficient to ensure that the German armed forces are fully operational. In addition, the previous efforts in recruiting staff would have to be “massively increased”.
In an official short message from the German Bundestag on March 14 (hib 181/2023) the SPD MP Eva Högl, the current Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, is calling for a further massive increase in the special fund for the Bundeswehr by a further 200 billion euros. Even during the Corona crisis, such notifications about the three-digit billion sums required for government authorities and their agenda work were not uncommon.
In its 171-page “Annual Report 2022” emphatically that “in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Germany must fulfill its obligations to NATO”.
In December 2022, the 100 billion special fund announced with the “turn of the era” should have a “historic awakening” to mark. This was announced by the Chief Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Eberhard Zorn, who is now to be replaced, and the then Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht (SPD). Then, in January, the new Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, announced his assessmentthis sum will not be enough “to equip the Bundeswehr comprehensively and modernly again”.
In the current communication of the German Bundestag on Högl’s annual report now states in more detail the justification for tripling the financial demands:
“According to military experts, a total of 300 billion euros would be necessary, writes Högl in her annual report for 2022 (20/5700), which she handed over to Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) on Tuesday and then presented to the press (.. .) Two-digit billions are required to fill up the ammunition stocks and build ammunition depots. These sums are not included in the special fund, but are to be financed from the regular defense budget (…)”
In addition, the future priorities of the Bundeswehr’s work are explained for the corresponding budget requirements:
“Whereas two formations of battalion strength had to be prepared and equipped for foreign missions like in Afghanistan, Germany had promised NATO three divisions with eight brigades and a total of 50,000 soldiers for credible deterrence. These large formations would have to be provided with the corresponding large-scale equipment and the necessary equipment and clothing for the soldiers be equipped.”
In her report, Högl criticized “the procurement system” as “too sluggish” because “in 2022 the soldiers had not received a cent from the special fund”. The “initiated reforms in procurement” must therefore be accelerated “at high pressure”. The same applies to the rehabilitation of infrastructure and barracks, many of which, according to Högl, are “in a miserable condition”. The annual report goes on to say:
“If things stayed at the current pace and the existing framework conditions, it would take about half a century for just the current infrastructure of the Bundeswehr to be completely renovated.”
The Bundeswehr’s plan on the subject of its future troop strength envisages reaching a “targeted target strength of 203,000 soldiers” by 2031. According to the assessment of the military commissioners, the Bundeswehr must “massively increase its previous efforts in recruiting personnel”. Högl complained that the number of troops “of 183,051 soldiers at the end of last year” was even 644 below that of 2021. The number of applicants has “decreased by around eleven percent”.
Finally, the notification informs that of the “117,987 military posts above the enlisted career path” as of December 31, 2022 “with 18,692 posts, 15.8 percent were vacant”.
More on the subject – RIA on Boris Pistorius and the Bundeswehr: Axis powers are marching against Russia
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