As of: April 5, 2024, 7:07 p.m
By: Franziska Schwarz
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The German Bundeswehr is receiving a new command structure. Defense Minister Pistorius may be using the Cold War as a blueprint.
Update from April 4th, 5:19 p.m
.: A few background information on the new four branches of the Bundeswehr:
Army
: The German Army is the largest branch of the armed forces with almost 65,000 soldiers and operates primarily on land. Its ten military branches include armored troops, infantry, artillery troops and telecommunications troops. The tasks include, among other things, combat situations, humanitarian aid, support in dealing with natural disasters and international crisis management. The new homeland security forces of the Bundeswehr will now also be subordinate to the army.
Air Force
: It monitors the airspace over Germany and the Bundeswehr's areas of operation, maintains fighter aircraft formations and ground-based air defense to ensure air sovereignty, takes on transport flights and takes part in relief, rescue or evacuation missions in Germany and abroad. It includes almost 28,000 soldiers. In the new structure, the Bundeswehr Aviation Office will also be assigned to the Air Force.
Navy
: A good 15,000 Bundeswehr members serve in the Navy. It is used at sea around the world, for example to protect shipping routes. It contributes to national and alliance defense, global crisis management, homeland security and international humanitarian aid. The Navy should be able to wage a possible sea war over, on and under water.
Cyber and Information Space (CIR)
: The approximately 16,000 members of this organizational area to date are specialized in electronic warfare and cyber operations, reconnaissance and securing the electronic infrastructure. The Bundeswehr's information technology in Germany and in use as well as the critical infrastructure are also protected from cyber attacks.
“Signal of departure”: Unified leadership and new armed forces in the Bundeswehr
Update from April 4th, 2:56 p.m
.: In his press conference in Berlin, Pistorius also spoke of a “signal of departure” for reform of the Bundeswehr. The most important decisions should be “implemented in the next few months”.
With a view to the new fourth armed forces area, CIR, Pistorius referred to the fight against disinformation campaigns in addition to securing Bundeswehr networks from hacker attacks.
The SPD politician emphasized that a possible reinstatement of “compulsory military service of some kind” had already been “considered” in the plans. However, this decision will only be made later.
Pistorius presents new Bundeswehr – focus on cyber defense
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (archive photo) wants to make the Bundeswehr “war-ready”. © Sylvio Dittrich/Imago
Update from April 4th, 1:04 p.m
.: Pistorius presented his Bundeswehr plans in Berlin. The most important points of the new Bundeswehr structure include:
The branches of the
armed forces
(army, air force, navy) now also include the
cyber and information space force (CIR).
The four forces have a joint operational
support command
Shortage of personnel in the Bundeswehr: Pistorius continues to have the Swedish model examined
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Update from April 4th, 12:21 p.m
.: The Bundeswehr is receiving a new command structure. The
Berliner Morgenpost
comments on the move rather pessimistically: “One should not exaggerate expectations of this reform. So far, every minister has made a name for themselves with reforms to the Bundeswehr. Those responsible are all gone. But the problems remain,” says an opinion piece in the newspaper today.
Bundeswehr reform: Pistorius' new command structure
First report
: Berlin – Boris Pistorius wants to present his plans for the Bundeswehr reform this Thursday (April 4th). With a changed command structure, the troops should become more capable of acting militarily. In November, the SPD defense minister proclaimed “warworthiness as a maxim for action”.
Against the background of Russia's aggression and the growing threat of war for Germany, Pistorius has given the order to question the existing command structure and align it with the requirements of contemporary national and alliance defense, the Defense Ministry said.
Pistorius wants to focus the Bundeswehr on national and alliance defense
On Pistorius' table are working papers that provide for a joint operational command and four branches of the armed forces - the army, air force, navy and cyber and information space (CIR). The medical service and the so-called armed forces base - which includes logistics, military police and NBC defense - could lose their independence.
The argument for integrating military police and NBC defense specialists into the land forces, as in the Cold War, was primarily that “immediate access was necessary in an emergency,” the
Tagesspiegel
summarized a corresponding guest article by Pistorius.
Lack of personnel in the Bundeswehr: How does Pistorius want to proceed?
The Bundeswehr has previously had an operations command in Schwielowsee near Potsdam for planning and controlling foreign operations such as in West Africa or now with the frigate “Hessen” in the Red Sea. In addition, a territorial command for national defense was created in Berlin, in which the operational plan (“OPLAN”) for the national defense of Germany was developed. The two positions have very different tasks, but also some possible overlap.
It is also expected with interest whether and how the minister will comment on the Bundeswehr's personnel targets. The Bundeswehr's so-called personnel offensive has not made any progress in recent years and the number of soldiers has recently fallen to 181,500. The stated goal so far has been for the Bundeswehr to grow to 203,000 soldiers by 2031 - now also against the background of the new dangers since the Ukraine war.
(frs with dpa)