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Boris Pistorius: "Conscription would not help us at all in the next two or three years"

2023-02-01T16:23:38.136Z


Germany wants to deliver 14 Leopard 2 to Ukraine. The tank battalion in Augustdorf is to hand them over. During the visit, the Secretary of Defense justifies the decision - explaining a previous statement on conscription.


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Boris Pistorius

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BENJAMIN WESTHOFF / REUTERS

Will Germany return to conscription?

The defense minister himself had fueled the discussion.

During a visit to the Bundeswehr in Augustdorf, Boris Pistorius (SPD) now said: "Conscription would not help us at all in the next two or three years." Pistorius had traveled to Augustdorf in Westphalia to see the Leopard tanks for himself to do, which the federal government has promised to Ukraine - and all of which are to be made available from the tank battalion.

Last week, Pistorius described the suspension of conscription by the black-yellow federal government in 2011 as a mistake - and thus started a new debate on compulsory service with arms.

Pistorius said in Augustdorf that he had not brought up the reintroduction.

He only spoke "in the context of compulsory military service in general" about the perception of the Bundeswehr in today's society, Pistorius continued.

In this context, he said that the abolition was a mistake.

"And I'll stick to that."

After much deliberation, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced on Wednesday last week that Germany also wants to support Ukraine with the delivery of 14 Leopard 2 main battle tanks in the war against Russia.

They are to be handed over by Panzer Battalion 203.

Since August 2022, this has also been the core of the multinational NATO battle group in Lithuania with around 550 soldiers.

Since with this delivery – and five additional tanks provided as a reserve – basically the entire stock of the battalion is being handed over, it was important to him that the soldiers heard this message “from their minister too”.

“Of course their hearts are bleeding,” Pistorius continued, “but they understand that.” Ukraine needs all the support it can get in the fight against the aggressor from Russia, “and the Leopards can play an important role in the fight against the aggressor to play".

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Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2023-02-01

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