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Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer and her Inspector General Zorn (archive)
Photo: Michael Sohn / AP
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) admitted that her apparatus and especially her most important military advisor had errors in the affair of an illegal amnesty for soldiers in the Special Forces Command (KSK).
In the defense committee, the minister said behind closed doors, according to participants, that she and the parliament had been informed of the delicate matter by Inspector General Eberhard Zorn far too late.
In spring 2020, following an offer from their commander, KSK soldiers were able to return previously stolen ammunition anonymously and thus with impunity.
The Minister claims to have found out from the Inspector General only after a press report in early February about the collection campaign at the KSK location in Calw.
Kramp-Karrenbauer had used Zorn in the early summer of 2020 as head of a task force to reform the elite association because right-wing extremist activities had been tolerated there for years.
During the research in Calw, massive sloppiness in the ammunition management of the special forces was noticed.
However, the amnesty action did not become public knowledge until early 2021.
Parliament was not properly informed
After the minister's lecture, Zorn admitted contrite that it was a mistake not to mention the apparently illegal collection campaign in a report to the minister and the Bundestag that he had drawn up in November 2020.
The minister had previously admitted that this gave the impression that "information was deliberately withheld".
The affair is about a legally at least questionable action by KSK commander Markus Kreitmayr.
In March 2020, he had offered his soldiers that they could hand in ammunition previously stolen during exercises anonymously and with impunity in "amnesty boxes".
In the end, more than 37,000 rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades were collected.
The action is considered by lawyers to prevent punishment in office, since every loss of ammunition in the troops must be investigated and thefts must be prosecuted.
The action was particularly tricky because the ammunition in the boxes was recorded in the KSK's books as having been used.
This means that soldiers must have tried actively to cover up their theft of ammunition.
The KSK's understanding of the elite is »unacceptable
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According to participants, Kramp-Karrenbauer described in front of the committee that investigations into the rallying campaign had been going on within the Bundeswehr since summer 2020.
The final report of the army is not expected until next week, however, then she will also decide on the future of KSK commander Kreitmayr, but his interrogations are still ongoing.
Nevertheless, the minister went harshly with the command.
The previous findings testified to a completely wrong understanding of the elite.
In Calw there is obviously a feeling of a misunderstood special position and an ignorant attitude towards the troops' regulations.
Both, according to the minister, are "unacceptable".
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KSK soldiers during an exercise (archive image)
Photo: A3386 Uli Deck / dpa
Why the army's investigations are taking so long remained open in the committee.
According to reports, the minister only said that she had now warned the General Inspector that the responsible department of the army, the "Rapid Forces Division" (DSK), should quickly conclude the investigation and make recommendations for further dealings with the KSK boss .
Leftists are calling for the Inspector General to be dismissed
According to participants at the meeting, Kramp-Karrenbauer indirectly criticized their military and the way the case was dealt with.
As a minister, she expects the military hierarchy, from the KSK commander to the "Rapid Forces Division" to the General Inspector, to fulfill its responsibility and duty of conscientious supervision.
Nonetheless, when asked, she later stated that she had full confidence in Anger.
Kramp-Karrenbauer himself made the reform of the KSK a top priority in the summer of 2020 and, with quotes from the "iron broom", gave the impression that this was right at the top of their agenda.
The fact that she was only informed months later about such a delicate process must have worried her the most.
In any case, the Green MP Tobias Lindner mocked after appearing in the committee that Kramp-Karrenbauer "doesn't have her ministry under control".
Tobias Pflüger from the Left spoke of an "open deception of parliament" and called for the removal of Inspector General Zorn.
The discussion about the elite association is far from over after the performance on Wednesday.
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