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It has long been considered the wrong choice, and now Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht is leaving the cabinet.
On Monday morning she asked Chancellor Scholz for her release.
Lambrecht justified the resignation with the fact that there had been a “media focus” on her person in the past few months – and the Bundeswehr had been pushed into the background as a result.
However, the minister played a significant role in the fact that she was often the focus of attention – Lambrecht's term in office was riddled with bankruptcies and breakdowns.
Most recently, the minister's failed New Year's Eve video caused outrage.
In the Instagram clip, Lambrecht talks about the Ukraine war, only to rave about encounters with “interesting and great people” the next moment.
First demands for resignation were loud.
It wasn't the only misstep by the 57-year-old SPD politician.
Shortly after taking office and despite the crisis in Ukraine at the time, she went on a skiing holiday to Ischgl over Christmas 2021 and New Year's Eve.
In April 2022, Lambrecht visited a Bundeswehr unit in northern Germany by helicopter - and a day later flew by helicopter to Sylt for an Easter holiday.
The 5,000 protective helmets from Bundeswehr stocks that Lambrecht offered a few weeks before the Russian attack on Ukraine will also be remembered - which brought her international criticism.
The then Ukrainian ambassador, Andriy Melnyk, clearly expressed his disappointment.
Andriy Melnyk, former Ambassador of Ukraine
"Let's be serious, 5000 helmets, they're important, they'll definitely be needed, but what we really need are defensive weapons."
In the days leading up to her retirement, Lambrecht made several public appearances, including a demonstration of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle.
Christine Lambrecht, former Secretary of Defense
"After the Puma's temporary failure at the end of last year, it was very important that we as Germany ensured that we could fulfill our responsibilities within NATO, within the spearhead of NATO, within the VJTF, our challenges, our tasks."
Lambrecht also spoke to the press again about the Bundeswehr's defective Puma tanks - one of many problems that her successor will now have to deal with.
Despite the 100 billion euro special fund, the modernization of the Bundeswehr has not yet got off to the desired start.
Who is in charge of defense?
Several names are circulating: the military commissioner Eva Högl, social affairs minister Hubertus Heil – and also SPD leader Lars Klingbeil are mentioned.
Chancellor Scholz thanked Christine Lambrecht for the "good work" and announced that a decision on the successor would be made "quickly".
Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor
“Of course, today is not the day to report on how things are going for good reason. But I want to say that I have a clear idea and that will become known to everyone very quickly. How is this supposed to continue? The Federal Ministry of Defence, the Federal Armed Forces, but everyone who is concerned with national defense in our country deserves that this be clarified quickly. I know how things should go from my point of view, and we will then announce that in good time.«
Time is of the essence: On Friday, Ukraine's western allies will discuss further arms deliveries in the so-called Ramstein format.