German Military Strength: State of the Union
Let's talk about Germany's military prowess—or in this case, its current state and future developments.
soldier count
Back in 2018, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen decided on a goal: boost the soldier number up to 203,000 by 2025. Sadly, this ambition never materialized, with successor Boris Pistorius pushing back the deadline to 2031. Nevertheless, even with the delay, the reservists' association still thinks the target is too modest.
The reality, though, isn't exactly celebratory. From the summer of 2018, the army count slipped from 183,000 soldiers to 181,383 as of October 31, 202x. One in every eight troops is a woman.
Moreover, thousands of positions remain empty, leaves the total service force at 664,000 with civilian staff included. Comparatively, way back in October 3, 1990, the number of soldiers surpassed 600,000.
military might
The Ifo Economic Institute offers a grim outlook: in the course of German reunification, the nation has scaled back too far—exceeding even international regulations. They chide Germany for thoughtlessly giving away, selling, and destroying equipment.
Let's look at tanks, for example. In 1992, Germany boasted 6,779 battle tanks mostly consisting of East German equipment. Presently, the Wall Street Journal estimates only about 100 functional tanks remain, with industry capabilities allowing just three tanks a month.
Now, shifting our attention to the air force: according to the defense report, Tornado fighter aircraft are set to be outdated by 2023, prompting a €8.3 billion investment in F-35 jet replacements. Plus, 15 Eurofighters will be purchased too. However, aCh-53 helicopter replacement with heavy transport helicopters won't be done until 2030.
Glancing at the army's aviation sector, Germany experienced a sharp drop. In 1992, 13,337 fighter aircraft were operational, while in 2020, there's a drastic decrease to 345. Retrofitting radios from the '80s, a Bundestag allocation of €25 million for new combat boats, and the 2026 replacement of the 30-year-old P8 pistol are other challenges faced by the armed forces.
self-defense capacities
Germany's civil defense has also taken a hit. Most of the 2000+ shelters, purpose-built for housing civilians and soldiers in times of attack, have been decommissioned since the '90s. Some remnants of these shelters remain, and there are about 600 operational units for half a million residents—but these aren't functional.
Former auxiliary hospitals, which once housed 80,000 patients during the Cold War, no longer exist. Regarding the German rail system, it's only efficient in providing fresh water. In many other sectors, there is a lack of practical execution, despite theoretical planning.
Heart of the Matter
To sum up, Germany demonstrates significant dependence on America's security agreements. Despite a newly-established €100 billion special fund to rebuild Germany's military capabilities, questions concerning Germany's preparedness for conflict persist. According to a Bundestag report, it could take half a century to recoup the army to its former glory at the current pace of renewal!
