Pistorius delivers scathing verdict on troops: "No armed forces that are capable of defence"

The Bundeswehr is repeatedly criticized for its poor condition.

Defense Minister Pistorius now finds clear words.

Berlin – “We have no armed forces that are capable of being defended, i.e. capable of being defended against an offensive, brutal war of aggression.” These were the drastic words of Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) in the SPD parliamentary group meeting on Monday evening.

Words that should have hit the SPD MPs to the core.

It's not as if the Bundeswehr's lack of defense capability is completely new information, it's been a silent fear of German defense politicians for a long time - it's just that no one has ever voiced it so clearly.

Against the background of the Ukraine war, the statement takes on additional weight.

Pistorius argued that autocrats who would not shy away from brutality could not be controlled or forced to give in unless deterrence was also provided.

It would now also be up to him to ensure that deterrence worked again as quickly as possible.

The Bundeswehr urgently needs weapons, large equipment, ammunition and soldiers.

Defense ability of the Bundeswehr: Pistorius known for clear words

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Boris Pistorius, seen here during a visit to the German Navy, gave a devastating verdict on the Bundeswehr's combat readiness.

© Christian Charisius/dpa

At the parliamentary group meeting, Pistorius continued to say about Germany's role in NATO: "We have to fulfill our alliance obligations, fulfill them again.

We haven't done it in the past.” His call for NATO's two-percent target to be further tightened was only recently featured in the media.

For years, however, Germany has missed the original target of investing two percent of its GDP in defense.

NATO enlargement: The growing defense alliance

NATO enlargement: The growing defense alliance

Pistorius is known for his clear words, he is not one to beat around the bush.

His predecessor Christine Lambrecht (SPD) probably handled it differently.

Explosive: She apparently wanted to withhold the reports on material operational readiness from Parliament.

Under Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), who was Defense Minister from 2013 to 2019, the reports were initially classified as secret.

Members of parliament then had to go to the secret protection agency of the Bundestag in order to be able to read the data.

Clear words: praise for Pistorius

The defense minister has also received praise from CDU politicians for his honesty.

CDU foreign affairs expert Norbert Röttgen told

: "What Pistorius says is the bitter truth.

It is courageous and good that the Secretary of Defense is not glossing over them, but is voicing them clearly.

But he also uses it to describe his task: to change that, to get the political support of his own party.”

The chairman of the Bundeswehr Association, André Wüstner , also

spoke to

He also appreciates the sincere message: "It is impressive how honestly and truthfully the Defense Minister describes the situation in the Bundeswehr.

The troops have not known this in this clarity for many years.

But it is also clear that the federal government must act now.

It can't stay like this.”

Bundeswehr against reactivation of conscription

Most recently, a debate about reactivation of conscription broke out again in order to provide the Bundeswehr with more personnel.

The Bundeswehr itself strictly rejects this.

"We have other tasks," said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense.

The short-term reactivation of conscription would present the Bundeswehr with challenges that could hardly be mastered.

List of rubrics: © Christian Charisius/dpa