Why is Merkel so afraid to anger Russia
The angry speech of German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a government meeting during which she scolded Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the country's defense department, who decided to send German warships and aircraft to the Kerch Bay, is actually due to a number of reasons. Yes, Merkel’s extremely emotional attack: “Are you going to fight with the Russians ?!”, this, of course, is, first of all, an understanding of the current political moment and, let’s say ... historical memory is not lost. However, the fact is that Frau Chancellor simply realistically assesses the current state of the Bundeswehr. Very deplorable state ...
It is unclear what kind of combat vessels and what kind of aircraft the Minister of Defense of Germany was planning to transfer to the Crimean coast, given that the vast majority of them are not ready today, not only for "battle and march", but for nothing at all. According to the data provided by her subordinates, if in 2018 the combat readiness of the country's military fleet and aircraft still reached 70%, now things seem to have only worsened. However, last year it came to absolutely glaring facts - Germany spent its first half ... without having a single serviceable submarine at all! Now, according to reports of the Ministry of Defense, three of the six submarines seem to be suitable for something (at least they can fall off the wall), but this is also somehow slightly encouraging to Berlin.
The Bundeswehr’s Air Force has even more problems - the main Tornado fighter-bombers, which are their main combat vehicle, almost collapse on the runways. According to the report of the technical services of the military department, most of their components are worn out and out of date, there are no spare parts, nor are there qualified personnel for aircraft repair. With the heavy transport helicopters Sikorsky CH-53, which, in theory, should deliver lightly brave German soldiers to the place of warfare, and subsequently organize their supply or evacuation, the story is exactly the same. As in the old joke about crocodiles and ensign: “They fly, but only low ...” Many, as they are worthy of the museum of aircraft only, are unlikely to ever come off the ground at all. In short, the full Luftwaffe ...
The overall level of military readiness equipment The Bundeswehr, including the Navy, Air Force and armored forces today, according to official estimates, is less than 50%! What kind of military adventures are there - especially against the Russians? However, with what is the basis of the foundations of the combat power of any army in the world — personnel, things are even worse. It got to the point that some German media outlets in their malignancy regarding their native army go so far as to call it the “retirement brigade”. The reason is obvious - practically nobody wants to serve in the Bundeswehr! The contract army, which once seemed to be the solution to all problems and the only possible way for Germany to acquire modern armed forces capable of ensuring the country's security, turned out to be an extremely bad idea. Despite all the propaganda efforts and tricks of the recruiters, the number of recruits has reached a historic low today. The army elementarily "grows old" and suffers from a physical shortage of any personnel in general.
In this regard, the German authorities, planning to increase the Bundeswehr’s number from 2025 to 180 thousand people by 203, are forced to invest 380 million euros not in the technical re-equipment of the army, but in programs to “increase the attractiveness of military service”. It is planned to use as “buns”, first of all, an increase in the salaries of the military, and a wide variety of preferences - from allowing reservists to “serve” part-time to expanding the list of free medicine services and vocational training programs at the end of their service life. Nevertheless, these prospects do not cause much enthusiasm in society - there have been no queues at the call points, and there are none. About the frank recognition of the same Ursula von der Leyen, the army is not yet able to compete as an employer even with "representatives of small and medium-sized businesses." Today's German youth prefers to count money, rather than defend their homeland.
In addition, the problems of staffing of the Bundeswehr tend to accumulate. Hans-Peters Bartels, Plenipotentiary of the German Bundestag for the Armed Forces, honestly admits: all the government’s plans to increase the army can remain nothing more than good intentions for many years to come. Yes, as already mentioned, by 2025 it is planned to increase its number by 23 thousand people. But what about the fact that 21 full-time posts remain vacant today? And what can this figure be in six years? Do not forget about another problem, which Germany does not like to spread about. There are certain factors that cause the Bundeswehr to exercise extreme caution when selecting potential recruits. The fact is that, according to the Military Counterintelligence Service, the German army is steadily increasing the number of people with openly Nazi views every year. Last year, for this reason, only four military personnel were sent "to the civilian", however, counterintelligence officers say that, in fact, we are talking about many hundreds of adherents of the "Fuhrer" ideology in the army. What it is fraught for a country in Germany knows too well ....
In the light of all the above, the position of Angela Merkel, who arranged for the head of the Ministry of Defense a natural tramp, looks even more understandable and justified. It would be good if her successors, who are to lead Germany in the future, continue to show no less realism and prudence.
It is unclear what kind of combat vessels and what kind of aircraft the Minister of Defense of Germany was planning to transfer to the Crimean coast, given that the vast majority of them are not ready today, not only for "battle and march", but for nothing at all. According to the data provided by her subordinates, if in 2018 the combat readiness of the country's military fleet and aircraft still reached 70%, now things seem to have only worsened. However, last year it came to absolutely glaring facts - Germany spent its first half ... without having a single serviceable submarine at all! Now, according to reports of the Ministry of Defense, three of the six submarines seem to be suitable for something (at least they can fall off the wall), but this is also somehow slightly encouraging to Berlin.
The Bundeswehr’s Air Force has even more problems - the main Tornado fighter-bombers, which are their main combat vehicle, almost collapse on the runways. According to the report of the technical services of the military department, most of their components are worn out and out of date, there are no spare parts, nor are there qualified personnel for aircraft repair. With the heavy transport helicopters Sikorsky CH-53, which, in theory, should deliver lightly brave German soldiers to the place of warfare, and subsequently organize their supply or evacuation, the story is exactly the same. As in the old joke about crocodiles and ensign: “They fly, but only low ...” Many, as they are worthy of the museum of aircraft only, are unlikely to ever come off the ground at all. In short, the full Luftwaffe ...
The overall level of military readiness equipment The Bundeswehr, including the Navy, Air Force and armored forces today, according to official estimates, is less than 50%! What kind of military adventures are there - especially against the Russians? However, with what is the basis of the foundations of the combat power of any army in the world — personnel, things are even worse. It got to the point that some German media outlets in their malignancy regarding their native army go so far as to call it the “retirement brigade”. The reason is obvious - practically nobody wants to serve in the Bundeswehr! The contract army, which once seemed to be the solution to all problems and the only possible way for Germany to acquire modern armed forces capable of ensuring the country's security, turned out to be an extremely bad idea. Despite all the propaganda efforts and tricks of the recruiters, the number of recruits has reached a historic low today. The army elementarily "grows old" and suffers from a physical shortage of any personnel in general.
In this regard, the German authorities, planning to increase the Bundeswehr’s number from 2025 to 180 thousand people by 203, are forced to invest 380 million euros not in the technical re-equipment of the army, but in programs to “increase the attractiveness of military service”. It is planned to use as “buns”, first of all, an increase in the salaries of the military, and a wide variety of preferences - from allowing reservists to “serve” part-time to expanding the list of free medicine services and vocational training programs at the end of their service life. Nevertheless, these prospects do not cause much enthusiasm in society - there have been no queues at the call points, and there are none. About the frank recognition of the same Ursula von der Leyen, the army is not yet able to compete as an employer even with "representatives of small and medium-sized businesses." Today's German youth prefers to count money, rather than defend their homeland.
In addition, the problems of staffing of the Bundeswehr tend to accumulate. Hans-Peters Bartels, Plenipotentiary of the German Bundestag for the Armed Forces, honestly admits: all the government’s plans to increase the army can remain nothing more than good intentions for many years to come. Yes, as already mentioned, by 2025 it is planned to increase its number by 23 thousand people. But what about the fact that 21 full-time posts remain vacant today? And what can this figure be in six years? Do not forget about another problem, which Germany does not like to spread about. There are certain factors that cause the Bundeswehr to exercise extreme caution when selecting potential recruits. The fact is that, according to the Military Counterintelligence Service, the German army is steadily increasing the number of people with openly Nazi views every year. Last year, for this reason, only four military personnel were sent "to the civilian", however, counterintelligence officers say that, in fact, we are talking about many hundreds of adherents of the "Fuhrer" ideology in the army. What it is fraught for a country in Germany knows too well ....
In the light of all the above, the position of Angela Merkel, who arranged for the head of the Ministry of Defense a natural tramp, looks even more understandable and justified. It would be good if her successors, who are to lead Germany in the future, continue to show no less realism and prudence.
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