Bundeswehr demanded: Nato plan against possible Putin threat revealed - what it means for Germany
Created: 2022-06-29 05:36
By: Patrick Mayer
Part of the NATO Response Force (NRF): In 2023, the Bundeswehr Panzergrenadier Brigade 37 "Freistaat Sachsen" (photo) will be the lead unit for NATO's rapid reaction force.
© Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa
NATO wants to increase its rapid reaction force to over 300,000 soldiers in response to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Bundeswehr also provides a large contingent.
But that's not all.
Munich/Berlin/Brussels - It's a spectacular number: The transatlantic defense alliance NATO wants to expand its rapid reaction force immensely in response to the Russian attack on Ukraine - by almost eight times the previous troop strength.
This was announced by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday (June 27).
Response to the Russia-Ukraine war: NATO's rapid reaction force is being drastically expanded
The so-called NATO Response Force (NRF) is to comprise around 300,000 soldiers in the future - instead of the previous 40,000.
“Our new concept will guide us in an era of competition.
I expect it to make it clear that the Alliance sees Russia as the greatest and most direct threat to our security," Stoltenberg said.
The Norwegian announced "the biggest general overhaul since the end of the Cold War".
After NATO wants to admit the Scandinavian countries Sweden and Finland as additional members, this is the next reaction to the international aggression by Moscow ruler Vladimir Putin and his inner circle in the Kremlin.
Of course, the planned expansion of the NRF will also have a significant impact on the Bundeswehr and Germany.
Merkur.de
explains what the NATO plans mean for the Federal Republic and its armed forces:
NATO rapid reaction force: Bundeswehr provides a large contingent
Bundeswehr contingent in the NATO Response Force
: The NRF has a "Very High Readiness Joint Task Force" (VJTF).
Every year, various member states provide the so-called spearhead in brigade strength of up to 5,000 soldiers, who can be deployed anywhere in the alliance area within a few days.
Just next year, Germany will be responsible for the VJTF.
In other words: Panzergrenadierbrigade 37 "Freistaat Sachsen" will be the leading association for the rapid reaction force in 2023.
Overall, the Bundeswehr will provide around 16,000 of the 300,000 soldiers of the future NRF troop strength - according to the plans.
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NATO Response Force (NRF): German Bundeswehr leads multinational task force in Lithuania
NATO Battlegroup Lithuania
: Germany is currently already in charge of the so-called Battlegroup "Enhanced Forward Presence" in Lithuania.
Specifically: The Bundeswehr is providing around 1,100 of a total of 1,600 soldiers in Rukla - not far from the border with Russia's Putin partner Belarus.
At the beginning of June, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised the government in Vilnius that he would increase the Bundeswehr contingent in the Baltic country.
As NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg explained, Germany will double its contingent.
Ultimately, the Bundeswehr is to lead a multinational battle group of up to 5,000 men and women.
So far there are four multinational battlegroups in Estonia (led by Great Britain), Latvia (Canada), Lithuania (Germany) and Poland (USA).
In the future, this permanent troop presence will be extended to Slovakia, Romania and Hungary as well as Bulgaria.
Response to the Russia-Ukraine war: German Bundeswehr reorganizes associations
Large combat units of the Bundeswehr
: The army inspector, Alfons Mais, had already informed his soldiers in an internal letter about a general overhaul of the organizational structure.
From the letter quoted the
image
.
Mais' goal for the army is a so-called cold start capability.
This means that large units with brigades of around 5,000 soldiers should be ready for action within a short time.
The army should also have a fully equipped division under the direction of the 10th Armored Division from 2025.
Already after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the traffic light federal government had announced the formation of a third armored division.
The two previous armored divisions each have a troop strength of up to 18,000 men as a combat unit.
That would be a steep template for 300,000 men.
Military expert Gustav Gressel
Nato Response Force (NRF): Multinational troops are stationed in Germany
Stationing of NATO troops in Germany
: The logistics will be a tricky task.
"We'll have to wait and see how you imagine that in the assessment.
It was said that the rapid reaction force had to be operational within 30 days.
That would be a steep feat for 300,000 men," said military expert Gustav Gressel from the European Council of Foreign Relations in an interview with ZDF's "heute journal".
One problem is "to get so many people ready for action so quickly".
It is certain that parts of the NATO troops will also be stationed in Germany.
According to
Welt
, for example, most of the Battlegroup Lithuania will practice in this country.
NATO diplomats mainly list financial reasons.
The stationing of a full brigade on the eastern flank would therefore cause immense costs.
As a consequence, this requires military training areas on German soil.
The acceptance of the citizens will also be in demand.
An example: In the Württemberg district of Zollernalb, around 70 kilometers south of Stuttgart, people are vehemently opposed to a planned KSK jump area for the German armed forces.
But that's not all: A new "Territorial Command" of the Bundeswehr is to organize the transport of Allied forces through Germany in the future.
(pm)
