As of: April 4, 2024, 1:56 p.m
By: Bettina Menzel
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Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) on Thursday (April 4, 2024) with the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer (left), at a press conference about the new command structure of the Bundeswehr. © Michael Kappeler/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++
Inspector General 1, Army Inspector 0. This is apparently how the internal conflict between top generals in the Bundeswehr ended. Pistorius presented the reform plans on Thursday.
Berlin – The Bundeswehr is to become “war-ready” and will receive a new command structure for this purpose. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) officially presented the restructuring plans on Thursday (April 4). Key points of the new reform had already been leaked, as had an internal dispute between top generals. Pistorius has now made a decision in the alleged dispute, as
Business Insider
reported before the new command structure was announced.
Disagreement in the top management of the Bundeswehr about reform plans? Pistorius speaks out
There is said to have been disagreement about the new structure in advance between the Inspector of the Army, Alfons Mais, and the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer. It was about the allocation of the so-called armed forces base, which includes military police, NBC defense command, homeland security and the command for civil-military cooperation. As
Business Insider
reported on Thursday shortly before the official presentation of the command structure, Pistorius decided to assign the units to the support area differently than previously planned. Basically, all those forces that are available to all branches of the armed forces are brought together there.
The previously leaked reform plans had placed the entire armed forces base under the control of the army. The official announcement from the Federal Ministry of Defense shows: As reported by
Business Insider
, military police, NBC defense and civil-military cooperation are
actually assigned to the Bundeswehr support area. In the new structure, however, Homeland Security is attached to the army. “In the new structure, the homeland security forces will be assigned to the army in order to ensure the best possible preparation for the event of defense in basic operations,” said the ministry. According to
Business Insider
, Army Inspector Mais was unable to assert his line.
These are the reform plans for the Bundeswehr – further challenges lie ahead
The reform of the Bundeswehr aims, among other things, to abolish double structures. In November last year, Pistorius proclaimed “warworthiness as a maxim for action” in view of the current threat situation in Europe. Instead of the current three branches of the armed forces, there will be four in the future: In addition to the army, the air force and the navy, there will also be the cyber and information space sector. This is responsible, among other things, for cyber operations and electronic warfare.
The force still faces other challenges. In just a few years, there will be a financial gap of several billion euros in the Bundeswehr's budget, as an internal financial needs analysis by the Ministry of Defense recently showed. In addition, the personnel issue remains unresolved. The number of soldiers has recently fallen. Pistorius is having models for recruitment, such as general compulsory service, examined. Scandinavian states
(bme with dpa) serve as models.