The Crisis of the Bundeswehr after the Reunification of Germany

Abstract

The Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was one of the strongest
armies in NATO during the Cold War, is currently in serious crisis. After the reunification of Germany, the
number of soldiers was quickly reduced and the defence spending dropped to 1.2 percent of the GDP. In
2004, the doctrine of using the Bundeswehr changed too. It was concluded that there was no risk of an
attack on the German territory, so general conscription was abandoned and the supplies of weapons and
ammunition needed for mobilization were liquidated. The army was to specialise in peace and stabilisation
missions in endangered areas of the world. However, at present, Germany has far fewer soldiers on missions
than, for example, France and Great Britain, and it consistently refrains from joining missions during which it
is likely to participate in real combat operations. At present, the German army does not have a single brigade
capable of taking part in a combat, and a small number of Luftwaffe airplanes and helicopters are technically
sound, including Marine vessels. The situation of the Bundeswehr is complicated by the widespread pacifism
in German society and the resulting lack of trust in, and aversion to the military.