All articles tagged with #bundeswehr
Public prosecutors are examining more than a dozen allegations against soldiers in the 26th Parachute Regiment, including sexual harassment, drug use and Nazi-style uniforms, prompting leadership changes and a values-focused reform push as Germany seeks to bolster the Bundeswehr.
Thieves stole approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition from a Bundeswehr delivery truck in Burg, Saxony-Anhalt, after the driver made an unplanned stop at a hotel. The German Defense Ministry is investigating, blaming the driver for the breach, and noting recent similar incidents in the region.
Germany's cabinet has approved a bill to enhance military recruitment through voluntary service, aiming to increase troop numbers and strengthen national security amid geopolitical tensions, including the threat from Russia. The government is also establishing a National Security Council to improve crisis response and strategic planning.
Germany's Defense Ministry confirmed the authenticity of a leaked recording of a confidential discussion between high-ranking Bundeswehr officers regarding the war in Ukraine, intercepted and leaked by Russian state media. The audio includes discussions about Taurus cruise missiles and supplying Ukrainians with targeting information, prompting concerns about potential pressure from Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described it as a "very serious matter," while Russian state broadcaster RT's head published the audio. The incident has raised alarm among German lawmakers, with demands for investigation and explanations, and Russia claiming it as evidence of a "hybrid war" the West is waging on Russia.
The German Ministry of Defense confirmed the authenticity of a leaked audio recording of high-ranking Bundeswehr officers discussing the war in Ukraine, intercepted and leaked by Russian state media. The conversation included discussions about supplying Ukrainians with targeting information and the potential use of Taurus cruise missiles. German lawmakers expressed alarm over the incident, with concerns about potential pressure from Russia and implications for Germany's involvement in the conflict. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to send the Taurus missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns about direct or indirect participation in the war.
The budget committee of Germany's Bundestag has approved the procurement of additional ammunition for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer, Leopard 2 main battle tank, and Puma infantry fighting vehicle. The move aims to meet the needs of the German armed forces, support Ukraine, and replace ammunition stocks previously sent to Kyiv. Germany has been providing significant amounts of ammunition to Ukraine since the start of the war against Russian invaders, but the demand remains high.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said that the country's military, the Bundeswehr, will not be able to bridge gaps in funding and supplies by 2030. The minister has pledged to boost military spending and modernize the Bundeswehr after years of underinvestment. The Defense Ministry has previously calculated that the armed forces would need an investment of €300 billion ($326 billion) to replenish and update its stocks. Pistorius considers such an investment by the end of the decade not possible, but also "not necessary," saying instead that priorities must be chosen.
Germany's Parliamentary Commissioner for Armed Forces, Eva Högl, has released a report detailing the disastrous condition of the German military, known as the Bundeswehr, which lacks not only the necessary boats, planes, tanks, and military equipment but also the necessary education and training for its personnel. Despite the German government earmarking €100 billion for the modernization of the Bundeswehr, Högl's report reveals that the German armed forces are yet to receive those funds while expressing frustration at the slow procurement rate. The report also highlights kit shortages, shoddy infrastructure, and dilapidated barracks with walls propped up by sandbags.