The combat readiness of the German army is lower than it was when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Head of the German Armed Forces Association Colonel Andre Wuestner said in an interview with Reuters.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, about two-third of Germany’s eight brigades were combat-ready. That figure has declined to roughly 50 per cent due to the export of weapons and equipment to Ukraine, Wuestner stated.
‘Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we had eight brigades at around 65 percent readiness. Together, this means the German land forces are down to a readiness of around 50 percent,’ he highlighted.
The Colonel argued that sending substantial military aid to Ukraine have significantly impacted the availability of equipment, air defence systems, and howitzers in particular, leading to the current reduced readiness levels.
Germany’s Military Aid to Ukraine
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Germany has supplied approximately €28 billion worth of military assistance to Ukraine. Such assistance includes advanced air defence systems, tanks, howitzers, and other critical equipment.
In December 2024 Germany unveiled a new weapons package for Ukraine to fend off Russian invasion. The weapons package includes 15 Leopard 1 A5 main tanks, two Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, a self-propelled howitzer 2000, two Iris-T anti-aircraft systems, and two Patriot missile launch bases. An additional 65,000 rounds of anti-aircraft tank ammunition and further Iris-T system ammunition were also announced.
German air defence equipment is particularly important for Kyiv due to the continuous Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian forces and assets.
Failed Force Development
While Germany’s support was vital to the defence of Ukraine, it led to delays and shortcomings in Germany’s defence modernization plans, which contributed to the Bundeswehr’s declining readiness.
In February 2022 Chancellor Olaf Scholz presented a German defence policy reform, popularly referred to as the ‘Zeitenwende’, allocating €100 billion of investment over a special fund to modernize the Bundeswehr and achieve the NATO’s target of 2 per cent of GDP for defence spending.
Although the defence budget reached 2 per cent of the GDP last year due to the military fund, German force development is far from expectations. Chancellor Scholz’s pledge to provide two full divisions to NATO by 2025 and 2027 appears impossible. The second division is reported to be only 20 per cent equipped, with critical gaps in air defence systems, artillery, and personnel. ‘Even if we were to order everything now, we would not get it equipped in time,’ opposition lawmaker Ingo Gaedechens, a defence expert on the parliament’s budget committee stated.
‘Even with potential increases in defence spending, experts warn that German military could remain hampered for years’
Given that the defence fund is running out as far as 2028, Germany might find itself in heavy burdens to support the 2 per cent defence spending and address NATO duty over the long haul. Meanwhile, experts also argue that if military preparedness is lost and resources are strained due to massive support for Ukraine, Berlin would need at least 3 per cent per GDP to spend on defence to take the prized leadership role in defending Europe. Even with potential increases in defence spending, experts warn that German military could remain hampered for years due to these deficits.
As the German federal election takes place on 23 February 2025, the potential election of CDU leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor could bring some reforms in the defence policy of Germany. Merz has vowed to keep Germany’s defence budget at a minimum of 2 per cent of GDP in accordance with NATO pledges and as an assurance for long-term military modernization. He also condemned the Scholz government for delaying the full implementation of the Zeitenwende and demanded more efficient allocation of defence funds.
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