Germany Plans Major Restructuring of Military

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

August 23, 2010
Germany Plans Major Restructuring of Military
By JUDY DEMPSEY

BERLIN — Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Monday unveiled plans to restructure Germany’s armed forces in what is regarded as one of the most radical military shake-ups since the end of the Cold War.

The measures include ending conscription, reducing the Bundeswehr, or armed forces, to 163,000 from 250,000 and streamlining the command structures. The goal is to turn the military into a highly professional and flexible corps.

“The Bundeswehr will be smaller and more capable,” Mr. Guttenberg said in a brief statement after explaining his proposals to the parliamentary factions, adding that the final details would be worked out over the next few months. “This is now the beginning of a really important debate.”

But some security experts were skeptical about the overall impact of the changes.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/world/europe/24iht-germany.html?_r=1&ref=world

[tularetom]

1. That's a headline designed to scare the shit out of anybody

So many meanings could be read into it, most of them negative.

[Kolesar]

2. "restructuring" is business-speak for cut backs

Layoff, budget cuts: all very good things in a military perspective.

[bossy22]

5. depends...some things yes...somethings no

the "world order" would probably be able to survive without large land armies; but a world without strong navies would mean lawless-ness on the high-seas...

hey its already happening of the coast of africa...we've even told our own merchant ships "your on your own"

[hack89]

11. The end of conscription would increase personnel costs

per individual soldier - career soldiers and their benefits are expensive. With fewer soldiers overall there may be a reduction in the bottom line but not as much as you would think. The real savings come from not having to buy as much expensive hardware to equipment.

These moves will make the German army a more effective fighting force. The fact that they are all volunteers makes it more likely that they will be used.

[bobbieinok]

3. what will this do to the staffing of hospitals, etc?

About 25-30% of those drafted opted for 'civilian service' and were known as 'civis.'

Their term of service was a few months longer than those in the military. They worked in hospitals, churches, etc.--all sorts of service jobs in organizations serving the public good as defined by the 'civilian service' law. They were paid not by the organization for which they worked but by the government, just as the government paid those in the military.

[Plucketeer]

4. They could cut back even more!

The good ol' USA's got their back! :crazy:

[tourivers83]

9. Come to the Dark Side.

Yes we do. Germany, like many other countries in the Western World lives under the protection of the Pax Americana. The American Peace. The peace dividend that they enjoy has enabled them to have economic growth and prosperity with a standard of living greater then Americas. I don’t know for sure what I am trying to say with this but its expensive, we don’t get much thanks for it and some people think maybe we should pick up our toys and go home. Let someone else be the world’s policeman. :nopity:

[Plucketeer]

12. Yeah,

our taxpayers are actually lucky we didn't establish a "Win" in Vietnam. We'd have bases there too!

[Brooklyns_Finest]

6. Prussia

Wow, those guys who were in power from the early 30's to 45 really destroyed Germany's great military history. As much as I want to not feel bad for the German people, I actually do.

[Hardrada]

7. It partly came back with the East German NVA but then

they marched away into history also. On the other hand, Germany had a nucleus of a larger army in the 1920's. It was the Reichswehr and existed alongside the Weimar Republic. Perhaps this could be the sort of army General von Seeckt organized which could later on expand.

[Vehl]

8. isnt 163000 too small for germany?

its less than 10 division...when one accounts for support personnel...probably around 6 divisions.

i don't think this is enough for a country the size of Germany..even though it does not have any enemies per se.

[ShamelessHussy]

10. Downsizing, something we should definitely be looking into, especially with our economy

and considering the direction the Germany economy is heading in.

[and-justice-for-all]

14. I completely agree...

We need to close a large number of our over seas bases which would save us millions of dollars.

[cowcommander]

15. Sounds like something Ron Paul would say nt

[ShamelessHussy]

16. so

[and-justice-for-all]

13. Downsizing, which is good....

the would also benefit from booting out the American occupiers and so would we.