As of: April 2, 2024, 5:14 a.m
By: Yekaterina Jalunina
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A big task: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius plans to reform the Bundeswehr. © Marcus Brandt/dpa
Over the past three months, an intensive process to redesign the Bundeswehr has taken place behind the scenes at the German Ministry of Defense.
Berlin - A specially appointed project group consisting of 40 experts, civil servants and high-ranking military officers has dedicated itself to the task of redesigning the organizational structure of the Bundeswehr. These redesigned adjustments were documented in a detailed 35-page report in February that includes concrete proposals to reform the force structure.
After several rounds of voting, everything seemed to be ready for the official announcement of the reform by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius next Thursday. However,
according to information from
Business Insider,
a dispute broke out at the top of the ministry shortly before the home straight.
Dispute over Bundeswehr reform: power and influence of the generals under Pistorius
The conflict primarily revolves around the planned restructuring and assignment of troops to the various branches of the armed forces. The focus is on the planned changes to the command structures and the allocation of specific units. According to current planning, it is planned to set up a comprehensive support area in addition to the army, navy, air force and cyber branches. According to the report, this area should include all units of the Bundeswehr that provide skills that are equally needed by the army, navy and air force, such as logistics forces or medical soldiers.
However, there is one exception: military police, NBC defense, civil-military cooperation and homeland security should be assigned to the army along with their respective commands. This exception met with strong resistance from the General Representative Committee (GVPA), the highest representative of soldiers' interests in the ministry, which further complicated the planned reforms, wrote
Business Insider
.
Dispute among top generals: disagreement about exceptions to Bundeswehr reform
The dispute led to considerable tension between two key figures in the Bundeswehr - Inspector General Carsten Breuer and Army Inspector Alfons Mais, it said. Originally, the project group did not want to allow any exceptions in the distribution of troops. But interventions by Mais at Breuer led to a change in this position even before the final report was written. This change of course - apparently approved by Breuer - has now angered Mais, who complains internally about a lack of support.
Tensions in the Bundeswehr leadership: Criticism of Inspector General Breuer is growing
Despite the negative attitude of the GVPA and the internal conflicts, the Ministry of Defense plans to hold further discussions to bridge the existing differences until the reform is officially announced, according to
Business Insider
.
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Inspector General of the Bundeswehr: Carsten Breuer. © IMAGO / photo library
Regardless of the outcome of these debates, it is becoming apparent that the relationships between the leaders of the various branches of the armed forces and Inspector General Breuer are strained. Growing criticism of Breuer's leadership style suggests that his position could be at risk in the event of a political change after the next election. According to
Business Insider,
a senior official said the following: "I assume that if there is a change of government after next year's election, Breuer will be gone."
(jek)