Latest news with #G36

NATO to ask Berlin for seven more brigades under new targets, sources say

Straits Times

28-05-2025

Politics
Straits Times

NATO to ask Berlin for seven more brigades under new targets, sources say

G36 rifles are lined up on military premises where German reservists undergo shooting training, in Beelitz near Berlin, Germany, March 6, 2025, as NATO looks to boost its strength after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben/ File Photo NATO to ask Berlin for seven more brigades under new targets, sources say BERLIN - NATO will ask Germany to provide seven more brigades, or some 40,000 troops, for the alliance's defence, three sources told Reuters, under new targets for weapons and troop numbers that its members' defence ministers are set to agree on next week. The alliance is dramatically increasing its military capability targets as it views Russia as a much greater threat since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Exact figures for NATO's targets - either overall or country by country - are hard to verify as the information is highly classified. One senior military official who, like the other sources spoke on condition of anonymity, said the target for the total number of brigades that NATO allies would have to provide in future will be raised to between 120 and 130. This would mean a hike of some 50% from the current target of around 80 brigades, the source said. A government source put the target at 130 brigades for all of NATO. Neither the German defence ministry nor NATO responded immediately to requests for comment. In 2021, Germany agreed to provide 10 brigades - units usually comprising around 5,000 troops - for NATO by 2030. It currently has eight brigades and is building up a ninth in Lithuania to be ready from 2027. Providing a further 40,000 active troops will be a big challenge for Berlin, however. The Bundeswehr has not yet met a target of 203,000 troops set in 2018, and is currently short-staffed by some 20,000 regular troops, according to defence ministry data. Last year, Reuters reported that NATO would need 35 to 50 extra brigades to fully realise its new plans to defend against an attack from Russia and that Germany alone would have to quadruple its air defence capabilities. Furthermore, the new NATO targets do not yet reflect any provisions for a drawdown of U.S. troops in Europe, sources said, the prospect of which has rattled Europeans due to NATO's defence plans that rely heavily on U.S. assets. Washington has said it will start discussing its reduction plans with allies later this year. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has told Europeans that the United States can no longer be primarily focused on European security. During the Cold War, Germany maintained 500,000 troops and 800,000 reserve forces. Today, alongside Poland, it is tasked by NATO with providing the bulk of ground forces that would be first responders to any Russian attack on the alliance's eastern flank. SPENDING INCREASE NATO members have massively increased defence spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and have been urged to go further by Trump, who has threatened not to defend countries lagging behind on defence spending. At a summit in The Hague next month, the alliance's head Mark Rutte will seek an agreement from national leaders to more than double their current spending target from 2% of GDP to 5% - with 3.5% for defence and 1.5% for more broadly defined security-related spending. In a historic shift, Germany recently loosened its constitutional debt brake so that it can raise defence spending, and it has backed Rutte's 5% target. German Chief of Defence Carsten Breuer has ordered his country's forces to be fully equipped by 2029, by which time the alliance expects Moscow to have reconstituted its military forces sufficiently to attack NATO territory. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

The Star

28-05-2025

Politics
The Star

Exclusive-NATO to ask Berlin for seven more brigades under new targets, sources say

G36 rifles are lined up on military premises where German reservists undergo shooting training, in Beelitz near Berlin, Germany, March 6, 2025, as NATO looks to boost its strength after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben/ File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) - NATO will ask Germany to provide seven more brigades, or some 40,000 troops, for the alliance's defence, three sources told Reuters, under new targets for weapons and troop numbers that its members' defence ministers are set to agree on next week. The alliance is dramatically increasing its military capability targets as it views Russia as a much greater threat since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Exact figures for NATO's targets - either overall or country by country - are hard to verify as the information is highly classified. One senior military official who, like the other sources spoke on condition of anonymity, said the target for the total number of brigades that NATO allies would have to provide in future will be raised to between 120 and 130. This would mean a hike of some 50% from the current target of around 80 brigades, the source said. A government source put the target at 130 brigades for all of NATO. Neither the German defence ministry nor NATO responded immediately to requests for comment. In 2021, Germany agreed to provide 10 brigades - units usually comprising around 5,000 troops - for NATO by 2030. It currently has eight brigades and is building up a ninth in Lithuania to be ready from 2027. Providing a further 40,000 active troops will be a big challenge for Berlin, however. The Bundeswehr has not yet met a target of 203,000 troops set in 2018, and is currently short-staffed by some 20,000 regular troops, according to defence ministry data. Last year, Reuters reported that NATO would need 35 to 50 extra brigades to fully realise its new plans to defend against an attack from Russia and that Germany alone would have to quadruple its air defence capabilities. Furthermore, the new NATO targets do not yet reflect any provisions for a drawdown of U.S. troops in Europe, sources said, the prospect of which has rattled Europeans due to NATO's defence plans that rely heavily on U.S. assets. Washington has said it will start discussing its reduction plans with allies later this year. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has told Europeans that the United States can no longer be primarily focused on European security. During the Cold War, Germany maintained 500,000 troops and 800,000 reserve forces. Today, alongside Poland, it is tasked by NATO with providing the bulk of ground forces that would be first responders to any Russian attack on the alliance's eastern flank. SPENDING INCREASE NATO members have massively increased defence spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and have been urged to go further by Trump, who has threatened not to defend countries lagging behind on defence spending. At a summit in The Hague next month, the alliance's head Mark Rutte will seek an agreement from national leaders to more than double their current spending target from 2% of GDP to 5% - with 3.5% for defence and 1.5% for more broadly defined security-related spending. In a historic shift, Germany recently loosened its constitutional debt brake so that it can raise defence spending, and it has backed Rutte's 5% target. German Chief of Defence Carsten Breuer has ordered his country's forces to be fully equipped by 2029, by which time the alliance expects Moscow to have reconstituted its military forces sufficiently to attack NATO territory. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold, editing by Andrew Gray and Hugh Lawson)

Yahoo

07-03-2025

Politics
Yahoo

Ukraine war drives German civilians to military training programme

By Leon Kuegeler and Martin Schlicht BRUECK, Germany (Reuters) - Holding a rifle at a training range in a pine forest near Berlin, 23-year-old student Hannes was already anticipating the odd sense of disconnection he would feel upon returning home that day. "When I will be sitting on my couch at home this evening, I will think, Wow, what did I do today? Where was I?" he said, describing the contrast to his normally "pretty relaxed" life. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "You see these images from Ukraine and you see what terrible things are happening there. And you ask yourself, do I want to prepare for something like that too?" said Hannes, giving only his first name under Bundeswehr policy. As an "Ungediente" - a civilian without prior military service - his rifle training is part of a Bundeswehr programme designed to prepare Germans to support the army. The programme, launched in 2018, aims to fill a gap left when Germany abolished conscription in 2011. Germany's Bundeswehr has around 180,000 active personnel with plans to expand to 203,000 by 2031. It has just 60,000 reservists, but plans to more than triple this number. Because of its Nazi past, post-war Germany developed a pacifist political culture and avoided acquiring the advanced warfighting capabilities possessed by European peers Britain and France. But war in Ukraine has prompted a change in public attitudes towards the armed forces, culminating this week in the announcement by the parties due to form the next government of a plan to rip up spending rules to ramp up investment in defence. "The changed security situation in the world provided the motivation to take action," said Dennis, a 30-year-old marketing CEO, who always wanted to join the military but never had the chance before. Selim, the officer supervising the training at Berlin regional command, said the programme's three-week part-time course had seen tremendous interest. After completing it, trainees assist active-duty personnel and civilian organizations such as the German Red Cross, and are responsible for safeguarding infrastructure in the event of a national or NATO defence scenario. According to the Bundeswehr, about 3,000 such auxiliary personnel currently serve with the homeland security forces. As gunpowder lingers in the air, an instructor calls "Clear to fire," prompting prone shooters to take aim, their G36 rifles cracking in measured bursts as they progress from 200 meters to just five in a test of precision. When the final shots fade, they gather to inspect their targets. "You know how it is in movies and video games, where the heroes blast away with guns like it's no big deal? And then you actually get your hands on one of these things," Hannes said. "You definitely start to respect the weapon".

Reuters

07-03-2025

Politics
Reuters

Ukraine war drives German civilians to military training programme

BRUECK, Germany, March 7 (Reuters) - Holding a rifle at a training range in a pine forest near Berlin, 23-year-old student Hannes was already anticipating the odd sense of disconnection he would feel upon returning home that day. "When I will be sitting on my couch at home this evening, I will think, Wow, what did I do today? Where was I?" he said, describing the contrast to his normally "pretty relaxed" life. "You see these images from Ukraine and you see what terrible things are happening there. And you ask yourself, do I want to prepare for something like that too?" said Hannes, giving only his first name under Bundeswehr policy. As an "Ungediente" - a civilian without prior military service - his rifle training is part of a Bundeswehr programme designed to prepare Germans to support the army. The programme, launched in 2018, aims to fill a gap left when Germany abolished conscription in 2011. Germany's Bundeswehr has around 180,000 active personnel with plans to expand to 203,000 by 2031. It has just 60,000 reservists, but plans to more than triple this number. Because of its Nazi past, post-war Germany developed a pacifist political culture and avoided acquiring the advanced warfighting capabilities possessed by European peers Britain and France. But war in Ukraine has prompted a change in public attitudes towards the armed forces, culminating this week in the announcement by the parties due to form the next government of a plan to rip up spending rules to ramp up investment in defence. "The changed security situation in the world provided the motivation to take action," said Dennis, a 30-year-old marketing CEO, who always wanted to join the military but never had the chance before. Selim, the officer supervising the training at Berlin regional command, said the programme's three-week part-time course had seen tremendous interest. After completing it, trainees assist active-duty personnel and civilian organizations such as the German Red Cross, and are responsible for safeguarding infrastructure in the event of a national or NATO defence scenario. According to the Bundeswehr, about 3,000 such auxiliary personnel currently serve with the homeland security forces. As gunpowder lingers in the air, an instructor calls "Clear to fire," prompting prone shooters to take aim, their G36 rifles cracking in measured bursts as they progress from 200 meters to just five in a test of precision. When the final shots fade, they gather to inspect their targets. "You know how it is in movies and video games, where the heroes blast away with guns like it's no big deal? And then you actually get your hands on one of these things," Hannes said. "You definitely start to respect the weapon".

In a field in northwest Germany, a man takes his position in the grass. He is lying on his front, almost flat to the earth. The ground beneath him is cold. Any other day it would be uncomfortable, but today he barely notices. Instead, he is focused on the gun in his hands - a G36 assault rifle. His eyes are fixed on the target he has been trained to hit. Unblinking, he squeezes the trigger. David wants to help defend his country David wants to help defend his country This time last week he was working in an office; today he's practising how to defend his country. He's one of the latest recruits to Germany's Homeland defence or Heimatschutz. The current group includes a young mum Natalie, Kai who works in shipping and an IT consultant called David."We need to defend our community of countries. This is my small contribution." David, homeland defence recruit Image captions After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Germany vowed to transform its military. That includes finding tens of thousands more soldiers and reservists, as well as creating at least six Homeland defence regiments with around 6,000 to 8,000 personnel by 2026. New recruits are put through their paces New recruits are put through their paces"The situation in Europe has changed because of the war in Ukraine," explains Second Lieutenant Miguel, one of those responsible for training the recruits. "We need to get ready and fill up our reserves." As well as shooting and survival, they are drilled in a variety of scenarios involving conflict and natural disaster. The days are long and intense with very little sleep as the recruits lug heavy gear for many kilometres as they simulate combat. Lieutenant Miguel says Germany needs to get war ready Lieutenant Miguel says Germany needs to get war ready"The last few days we were in the fields training. We were defending positions and camping," says David, who was inspired to apply for the Homeland defence when war returned to Europe. David accuses Russia of "trying to undermine the world order", saying it has broken every red line created in the wake of the First and Second World Wars, including using rape and torture as weapons. Image captions Image 1 Lieutenant Miguel Lieutenant Miguel Lieutenant Miguel He's not the only one who was shocked i nto action by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, as Russian troops rolled in, Germany was forced to reprioritise defence with the Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announcing a €100bn fund to rearm and modernise his nation's armed forces. Since then, the message from military chiefs has been clear: Germany needs to be ready for war, and fast. Russian President Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin During a NATO exercise in the spring, the German chief of defence, General Carsten Breuer, said his nation has "five to eight years" to prepare for a situation where "an attack against NATO territory might be possible". That five-year timer is now ticking and it's not just Germany's defence on the line. Image captions Image 1 Olaf Scholz visits a mountain infantry brigade on the Reiteralpe Olaf Scholz visits a mountain infantry brigade on the Reiteralpe Olaf Scholz visits a mountain infantry brigade on the Reiteralpe If the war in Ukraine escalated and NATO's eastern flank was attacked, Germany would have two key roles... OPERATION DEUTSCHLAND As part of its response to the new threat, Germany has a top-secret document called Operation Deutschland or the Oplan. The 1,000-page dossier details the measures Europe's biggest power would take to protect critical infrastructure and mobilise its own forces, as well as aid with the mobilisation of NATO troops, in times of war. "Since the Russian invasion into Ukraine, the situation has completely changed," says Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann, head of Germany's Homeland Defence Command and the self-described architect of the plan. Sky's Siobhan Robbins speaks to Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann Sky's Siobhan Robbins speaks to Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann We are living in a "hybrid phase", he adds, with threats including "disinformation, cyber attack, espionage and sabotage". When asked if this is the most dangerous period, in terms of risk of war for Germany since the Cold War, he replied: "Yes, definitely."" I don't think we are in war, but we are no longer living in peacetime." Last year, Germany honed its battle readiness including using war games to test how the military or civilians respond. But while ministers and military chiefs talk about the need to get "war ready" - years of deprioritising defence have made that task extremely complex. Success involves the whole country rising rapidly to the challenge, according to Bodemann. "Russia is reorganising, restructuring and boosting its forces... We have to speed up to be ready before it is," he warned. In her annual report, Germany's armed forces commissioner, Eva Hogl, noted the nation's military, or Bundeswehr, faced significant personnel problems as well as continuing struggles with equipment shortages. At the end of 2023, soldier numbers dropped by 1,537 compared to the year before with more than 20,000 vacant posts. So how did we get here? Image captions After the Second World War, all of Germany's armed forces were disbanded. In 1949, Germany was officially divided into Communist East and Capitalist West. During the Cold War both sides grew their armed forces, bolstering ranks with conscription. But in 1990, Germany reunified and the so-called "Army of Unity" was created. Since there was no immediate threat on Germany's borders, less government money was spent on defence and more on social and economic issues. By 2000, the army had cut 40% of its personnel. In the following years, spending fell to lows of 1.2% of Germany's GDP - well below NATO's 2% target. AGEING AND SHRINKING In 2022, a € 100bn fund was announced to re-equip the military after Russia invaded Ukraine. Then, in 2024, Germany pledged to hit the 2% NATO target for the first time since 1990s. Current figures show the Bundeswehr has just over 179,000 troops in uniform. That is the sixth largest in NATO, behind the US, Turkey, Poland, France and the UK. But for Germany's leaders that isn't good enough. By 2031, they want that figure to be 203,000. Image captions COMBAT READY? So how do you find 20,000 new soldiers in six years? The obvious answer is to recruit more young people. As well as the usual adverts on billboards and in cinemas, the military has been running youth camps to give teenagers a taste of army life. During a week-long course near Leipzig they practise navigation, teamwork, outdoor skills and do a timed assault course. Young Germans on a week-long course near Leipzig Young Germans on a week-long course near Leipzig Seventeen-year-old Julian is keen to serve. "There's a sense of patriotism - that's a big part of it - and wanting to defend my country," he says. Greta, 17, is interested in a military career but says few pupils at her school feel the same. "Probably they think they have to go to war and that doesn't sound that great," she explains. Conscription is another possible solution but the government sidestepped its reintroduction, instead opting for a draft law that would approve sending all 18-year-olds a questionnaire to gauge their readiness to serve. Young people practise navigation, team work and outdoor skills Young people practise navigation, team work and outdoor skills In 2025, men turning 18 - around 300,000 - would have to respond. Women would receive the questionnaire but aren't obliged to reply. Germany eventually wants to have 200,000 reservists to help boost troops to around 460,000 in wartime. Image captions Julian Julian A PACIFIST CULTURE But recruitment to the armed forces isn't straightforward. Many Germans are inherently anti-war. The horrors of the Second World War, the shame of atrocities committed by the Nazis, the division of Germany and its remilitarisation during the Cold War, have all left scars."Some people might find it strange that Germany isn't at the forefront of the idea that Europe needs to now rearm and get ready to defend itself," says historian and author, Katja Hoyer, "but that is underestimating the long history of German aversion to anything military". Last October, at a peace rally in Berlin, large crowds gathered to listen to anti-war speeches, many cheering in appreciation. Petra is opposed to war Petra is opposed to war Among those demonstrating was 60-year-old Petra. "I stand for peace," she declared. "War is never a solution... we have to sit down and talk together." Around her, people held banners displaying a similar message. Many were deeply worried about Germany strengthening its own military as well as supplying Ukraine with weapons."I think there is a real danger that everyone will be in a big war and maybe a third world war. It's very dangerous and we have to say no," said Katharina. Germany's history loomed large for Will, another protester. Will is concerned that Germany could be headed towards war Will is concerned that Germany could be headed towards war"I think Germany has a very poor history in regards to leading wars. The feeling I have is that we are drifting in this direction [towards war]," he said. He feared more weapons for Ukraine could mean returning to a dark past. But there were signs that some attitudes could be changing. A small counter-protest had popped up across the road. People on megaphones shouted back replies to the anti-war speakers, showing their support for arming Ukraine. Almost half of Germans (48%) are against further arms delivery to Ukraine, according to a survey by Ipsos at the start of January. In contrast 38% are still in favour. Half of Germans back defence minister Boris Pistorius's pledge to increase defence spending to between 3% and 3.5% of GDP. Among supporters at the Berlin counter-protest was Frederika. Frederika at the counter protest Frederika at the counter protest She was a pacifist for years but her views changed when Russia attacked."I am still part of a peace movement but in the face of a dictatorship, you can't be defenceless." Frederika, former pacifist Image captions TOO LITTLE TOO LATE? Ever since war returned to Europe, Germany has been trying to respond. Large parts of the special €100bn fund for troops approved in 2022 have been allocated to important projects including air defence systems, heavy transport helicopters and light combat helicopters. To reinforce NATO's eastern flank, Germany will permanently station 5,000 troops in Lithuania in the next few years. The Oplan has been drawn up. There's a promise to boost the country's defence industry and efforts are being made to solve the military's personnel problem including a draft law trying to make serving more attractive. In a recent interview, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the demand by Donald Trump to boost defence spending to 5% saying the figure was unnecessary and unrealistic. A German home defence recruit A German home defence recruit But there's no denying the European powerhouse faces an uphill battle. Throw in a looming general election and likely regime change, and the challenge only grows bigger. Could Germany be war-ready in five to eight years? For some, the growing threats facing Europe mean it is no longer up for debate, it can't afford not to be."The threat is imminent, we have to speed up," warns Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann."We do not want the war. We must be ready to defend our country and NATO territory." Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann Image captions CREDITS Written by Siobhan Robbins, Europe correspondent Edited by: Serena Kutchinsky, assistant editor Produced by Siobhan Robbins and James Lillywhite Graphics: Johnathan Toolan, Luan Leer & Yetunde Adeleye Photography: Associated Press, Benno Bartocha/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Wolfgang Kumm/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Kira Hofmann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Jennifer Wetters, Adam Berry and Siobhan Robbins. Image captions Top Built with Shorthand Does Germany need to be ready for war? This content is provided by Does Germany need to be ready for war?, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Does Germany need to be ready for war? cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Does Germany need to be ready for war? cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Does Germany need to be ready for war? cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once

Sky News

06-02-2025

Politics
Sky News

In a field in northwest Germany, a man takes his position in the grass. He is lying on his front, almost flat to the earth. The ground beneath him is cold. Any other day it would be uncomfortable, but today he barely notices. Instead, he is focused on the gun in his hands - a G36 assault rifle. His eyes are fixed on the target he has been trained to hit. Unblinking, he squeezes the trigger. David wants to help defend his country David wants to help defend his country This time last week he was working in an office; today he's practising how to defend his country. He's one of the latest recruits to Germany's Homeland defence or Heimatschutz. The current group includes a young mum Natalie, Kai who works in shipping and an IT consultant called David."We need to defend our community of countries. This is my small contribution." David, homeland defence recruit Image captions After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Germany vowed to transform its military. That includes finding tens of thousands more soldiers and reservists, as well as creating at least six Homeland defence regiments with around 6,000 to 8,000 personnel by 2026. New recruits are put through their paces New recruits are put through their paces"The situation in Europe has changed because of the war in Ukraine," explains Second Lieutenant Miguel, one of those responsible for training the recruits. "We need to get ready and fill up our reserves." As well as shooting and survival, they are drilled in a variety of scenarios involving conflict and natural disaster. The days are long and intense with very little sleep as the recruits lug heavy gear for many kilometres as they simulate combat. Lieutenant Miguel says Germany needs to get war ready Lieutenant Miguel says Germany needs to get war ready"The last few days we were in the fields training. We were defending positions and camping," says David, who was inspired to apply for the Homeland defence when war returned to Europe. David accuses Russia of "trying to undermine the world order", saying it has broken every red line created in the wake of the First and Second World Wars, including using rape and torture as weapons. Image captions Image 1 Lieutenant Miguel Lieutenant Miguel Lieutenant Miguel He's not the only one who was shocked i nto action by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, as Russian troops rolled in, Germany was forced to reprioritise defence with the Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announcing a €100bn fund to rearm and modernise his nation's armed forces. Since then, the message from military chiefs has been clear: Germany needs to be ready for war, and fast. Russian President Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin During a NATO exercise in the spring, the German chief of defence, General Carsten Breuer, said his nation has "five to eight years" to prepare for a situation where "an attack against NATO territory might be possible". That five-year timer is now ticking and it's not just Germany's defence on the line. Image captions Image 1 Olaf Scholz visits a mountain infantry brigade on the Reiteralpe Olaf Scholz visits a mountain infantry brigade on the Reiteralpe Olaf Scholz visits a mountain infantry brigade on the Reiteralpe If the war in Ukraine escalated and NATO's eastern flank was attacked, Germany would have two key roles... OPERATION DEUTSCHLAND As part of its response to the new threat, Germany has a top-secret document called Operation Deutschland or the Oplan. The 1,000-page dossier details the measures Europe's biggest power would take to protect critical infrastructure and mobilise its own forces, as well as aid with the mobilisation of NATO troops, in times of war. "Since the Russian invasion into Ukraine, the situation has completely changed," says Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann, head of Germany's Homeland Defence Command and the self-described architect of the plan. Sky's Siobhan Robbins speaks to Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann Sky's Siobhan Robbins speaks to Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann We are living in a "hybrid phase", he adds, with threats including "disinformation, cyber attack, espionage and sabotage". When asked if this is the most dangerous period, in terms of risk of war for Germany since the Cold War, he replied: "Yes, definitely."" I don't think we are in war, but we are no longer living in peacetime." Last year, Germany honed its battle readiness including using war games to test how the military or civilians respond. But while ministers and military chiefs talk about the need to get "war ready" - years of deprioritising defence have made that task extremely complex. Success involves the whole country rising rapidly to the challenge, according to Bodemann. "Russia is reorganising, restructuring and boosting its forces... We have to speed up to be ready before it is," he warned. In her annual report, Germany's armed forces commissioner, Eva Hogl, noted the nation's military, or Bundeswehr, faced significant personnel problems as well as continuing struggles with equipment shortages. At the end of 2023, soldier numbers dropped by 1,537 compared to the year before with more than 20,000 vacant posts. So how did we get here? Image captions After the Second World War, all of Germany's armed forces were disbanded. In 1949, Germany was officially divided into Communist East and Capitalist West. During the Cold War both sides grew their armed forces, bolstering ranks with conscription. But in 1990, Germany reunified and the so-called "Army of Unity" was created. Since there was no immediate threat on Germany's borders, less government money was spent on defence and more on social and economic issues. By 2000, the army had cut 40% of its personnel. In the following years, spending fell to lows of 1.2% of Germany's GDP - well below NATO's 2% target. AGEING AND SHRINKING In 2022, a € 100bn fund was announced to re-equip the military after Russia invaded Ukraine. Then, in 2024, Germany pledged to hit the 2% NATO target for the first time since 1990s. Current figures show the Bundeswehr has just over 179,000 troops in uniform. That is the sixth largest in NATO, behind the US, Turkey, Poland, France and the UK. But for Germany's leaders that isn't good enough. By 2031, they want that figure to be 203,000. Image captions COMBAT READY? So how do you find 20,000 new soldiers in six years? The obvious answer is to recruit more young people. As well as the usual adverts on billboards and in cinemas, the military has been running youth camps to give teenagers a taste of army life. During a week-long course near Leipzig they practise navigation, teamwork, outdoor skills and do a timed assault course. Young Germans on a week-long course near Leipzig Young Germans on a week-long course near Leipzig Seventeen-year-old Julian is keen to serve. "There's a sense of patriotism - that's a big part of it - and wanting to defend my country," he says. Greta, 17, is interested in a military career but says few pupils at her school feel the same. "Probably they think they have to go to war and that doesn't sound that great," she explains. Conscription is another possible solution but the government sidestepped its reintroduction, instead opting for a draft law that would approve sending all 18-year-olds a questionnaire to gauge their readiness to serve. Young people practise navigation, team work and outdoor skills Young people practise navigation, team work and outdoor skills In 2025, men turning 18 - around 300,000 - would have to respond. Women would receive the questionnaire but aren't obliged to reply. Germany eventually wants to have 200,000 reservists to help boost troops to around 460,000 in wartime. Image captions Julian Julian A PACIFIST CULTURE But recruitment to the armed forces isn't straightforward. Many Germans are inherently anti-war. The horrors of the Second World War, the shame of atrocities committed by the Nazis, the division of Germany and its remilitarisation during the Cold War, have all left scars."Some people might find it strange that Germany isn't at the forefront of the idea that Europe needs to now rearm and get ready to defend itself," says historian and author, Katja Hoyer, "but that is underestimating the long history of German aversion to anything military". Last October, at a peace rally in Berlin, large crowds gathered to listen to anti-war speeches, many cheering in appreciation. Petra is opposed to war Petra is opposed to war Among those demonstrating was 60-year-old Petra. "I stand for peace," she declared. "War is never a solution... we have to sit down and talk together." Around her, people held banners displaying a similar message. Many were deeply worried about Germany strengthening its own military as well as supplying Ukraine with weapons."I think there is a real danger that everyone will be in a big war and maybe a third world war. It's very dangerous and we have to say no," said Katharina. Germany's history loomed large for Will, another protester. Will is concerned that Germany could be headed towards war Will is concerned that Germany could be headed towards war"I think Germany has a very poor history in regards to leading wars. The feeling I have is that we are drifting in this direction [towards war]," he said. He feared more weapons for Ukraine could mean returning to a dark past. But there were signs that some attitudes could be changing. A small counter-protest had popped up across the road. People on megaphones shouted back replies to the anti-war speakers, showing their support for arming Ukraine. Almost half of Germans (48%) are against further arms delivery to Ukraine, according to a survey by Ipsos at the start of January. In contrast 38% are still in favour. Half of Germans back defence minister Boris Pistorius's pledge to increase defence spending to between 3% and 3.5% of GDP. Among supporters at the Berlin counter-protest was Frederika. Frederika at the counter protest Frederika at the counter protest She was a pacifist for years but her views changed when Russia attacked."I am still part of a peace movement but in the face of a dictatorship, you can't be defenceless." Frederika, former pacifist Image captions TOO LITTLE TOO LATE? Ever since war returned to Europe, Germany has been trying to respond. Large parts of the special €100bn fund for troops approved in 2022 have been allocated to important projects including air defence systems, heavy transport helicopters and light combat helicopters. To reinforce NATO's eastern flank, Germany will permanently station 5,000 troops in Lithuania in the next few years. The Oplan has been drawn up. There's a promise to boost the country's defence industry and efforts are being made to solve the military's personnel problem including a draft law trying to make serving more attractive. In a recent interview, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the demand by Donald Trump to boost defence spending to 5% saying the figure was unnecessary and unrealistic. A German home defence recruit A German home defence recruit But there's no denying the European powerhouse faces an uphill battle. Throw in a looming general election and likely regime change, and the challenge only grows bigger. Could Germany be war-ready in five to eight years? For some, the growing threats facing Europe mean it is no longer up for debate, it can't afford not to be."The threat is imminent, we have to speed up," warns Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann."We do not want the war. We must be ready to defend our country and NATO territory." Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann Image captions CREDITS Written by Siobhan Robbins, Europe correspondent Edited by: Serena Kutchinsky, assistant editor Produced by Siobhan Robbins and James Lillywhite Graphics: Johnathan Toolan, Luan Leer & Yetunde Adeleye Photography: Associated Press, Benno Bartocha/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Wolfgang Kumm/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Kira Hofmann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Jennifer Wetters, Adam Berry and Siobhan Robbins. Image captions Top Built with Shorthand Does Germany need to be ready for war? This content is provided by Does Germany need to be ready for war?, which may be using cookies and other technologies. 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In a field in northwest Germany, a man takes his position in the grass. He is lying on his front, almost flat to the earth. The ground beneath him is cold. Any other day it would be uncomfortable, but today he barely notices. Instead, he is focused on the gun in his hands - a G36 assault rifle. His eyes are fixed on the target he has been trained to hit. Unblinking, he squeezes the trigger. This time last week he was working in an office; today he's practising how to defend his country. He's one of the latest recruits to Germany's Homeland defence or Heimatschutz. The current group includes a young mum Natalie, Kai who works in shipping and an IT consultant called David. "We need to defend our community of countries. This is my small contribution." David, homeland defence recruit After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Germany vowed to transform its military. That includes finding tens of thousands more soldiers and reservists, as well as creating at least six Homeland defence regiments with around 6,000 to 8,000 personnel by 2026. "The situation in Europe has changed because of the war in Ukraine," explains Second Lieutenant Miguel, one of those responsible for training the recruits. "We need to get ready and fill up our reserves." As well as shooting and survival, they are drilled in a variety of scenarios involving conflict and natural disaster. The days are long and intense with very little sleep as the recruits lug heavy gear for many kilometres as they simulate combat. "The last few days we were in the fields training. We were defending positions and camping," says David, who was inspired to apply for the Homeland defence when war returned to Europe. David accuses Russia of "trying to undermine the world order", saying it has broken every red line created in the wake of the First and Second World Wars, including using rape and torture as weapons. He's not the only one who was shocked i nto action by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, as Russian troops rolled in, Germany was forced to reprioritise defence with the Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announcing a €100bn fund to rearm and modernise his nation's armed forces. Since then, the message from military chiefs has been clear: Germany needs to be ready for war, and fast. During a NATO exercise in the spring, the German chief of defence, General Carsten Breuer, said his nation has "five to eight years" to prepare for a situation where "an attack against NATO territory might be possible". That five-year timer is now ticking and it's not just Germany's defence on the line. If the war in Ukraine escalated and NATO's eastern flank was attacked, Germany would have two key roles... OPERATION DEUTSCHLAND As part of its response to the new threat, Germany has a top-secret document called Operation Deutschland or the Oplan. The 1,000-page dossier details the measures Europe's biggest power would take to protect critical infrastructure and mobilise its own forces, as well as aid with the mobilisation of NATO troops, in times of war. "Since the Russian invasion into Ukraine, the situation has completely changed," says Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann, head of Germany's Homeland Defence Command and the self-described architect of the plan. We are living in a "hybrid phase", he adds, with threats including "disinformation, cyber attack, espionage and sabotage". When asked if this is the most dangerous period, in terms of risk of war for Germany since the Cold War, he replied: "Yes, definitely." "I don't think we are in war, but we are no longer living in peacetime." Last year, Germany honed its battle readiness including using war games to test how the military or civilians respond. But while ministers and military chiefs talk about the need to get "war ready" - years of deprioritising defence have made that task extremely complex. Success involves the whole country rising rapidly to the challenge, according to Bodemann. "Russia is reorganising, restructuring and boosting its forces... We have to speed up to be ready before it is," he warned. In her annual report, Germany's armed forces commissioner, Eva Hogl, noted the nation's military, or Bundeswehr, faced significant personnel problems as well as continuing struggles with equipment shortages. At the end of 2023, soldier numbers dropped by 1,537 compared to the year before with more than 20,000 vacant posts. So how did we get here? After the Second World War, all of Germany's armed forces were disbanded. In 1949, Germany was officially divided into Communist East and Capitalist West. During the Cold War both sides grew their armed forces, bolstering ranks with conscription. But in 1990, Germany reunified and the so-called "Army of Unity" was created. Since there was no immediate threat on Germany's borders, less government money was spent on defence and more on social and economic issues. By 2000, the army had cut 40% of its personnel. In the following years, spending fell to lows of 1.2% of Germany's GDP - well below NATO's 2% target. AGEING AND SHRINKING In 2022, a €100bn fund was announced to re-equip the military after Russia invaded Ukraine. Then, in 2024, Germany pledged to hit the 2% NATO target for the first time since 1990s. Current figures show the Bundeswehr has just over 179,000 troops in uniform. That is the sixth largest in NATO, behind the US, Turkey, Poland, France and the UK. But for Germany's leaders that isn't good enough. By 2031, they want that figure to be 203,000. COMBAT READY? So how do you find 20,000 new soldiers in six years? The obvious answer is to recruit more young people. As well as the usual adverts on billboards and in cinemas, the military has been running youth camps to give teenagers a taste of army life. During a week-long course near Leipzig they practise navigation, teamwork, outdoor skills and do a timed assault course. Seventeen-year-old Julian is keen to serve. "There's a sense of patriotism - that's a big part of it - and wanting to defend my country," he says. Greta, 17, is interested in a military career but says few pupils at her school feel the same. "Probably they think they have to go to war and that doesn't sound that great," she explains. Conscription is another possible solution but the government sidestepped its reintroduction, instead opting for a draft law that would approve sending all 18-year-olds a questionnaire to gauge their readiness to serve. In 2025, men turning 18 - around 300,000 - would have to respond. Women would receive the questionnaire but aren't obliged to reply. Germany eventually wants to have 200,000 reservists to help boost troops to around 460,000 in wartime. A PACIFIST CULTURE But recruitment to the armed forces isn't straightforward. Many Germans are inherently anti-war. The horrors of the Second World War, the shame of atrocities committed by the Nazis, the division of Germany and its remilitarisation during the Cold War, have all left scars. "Some people might find it strange that Germany isn't at the forefront of the idea that Europe needs to now rearm and get ready to defend itself," says historian and author, Katja Hoyer, "but that is underestimating the long history of German aversion to anything military". Last October, at a peace rally in Berlin, large crowds gathered to listen to anti-war speeches, many cheering in appreciation. Among those demonstrating was 60-year-old Petra. "I stand for peace," she declared. "War is never a solution... we have to sit down and talk together." Around her, people held banners displaying a similar message. Many were deeply worried about Germany strengthening its own military as well as supplying Ukraine with weapons. "I think there is a real danger that everyone will be in a big war and maybe a third world war. It's very dangerous and we have to say no," said Katharina. Germany's history loomed large for Will, another protester. "I think Germany has a very poor history in regards to leading wars. The feeling I have is that we are drifting in this direction [towards war]," he said. He feared more weapons for Ukraine could mean returning to a dark past. But there were signs that some attitudes could be changing. A small counter-protest had popped up across the road. People on megaphones shouted back replies to the anti-war speakers, showing their support for arming Ukraine. Almost half of Germans (48%) are against further arms delivery to Ukraine, according to a survey by Ipsos at the start of January. In contrast 38% are still in favour. Half of Germans back defence minister Boris Pistorius's pledge to increase defence spending to between 3% and 3.5% of GDP. Among supporters at the Berlin counter-protest was Frederika. She was a pacifist for years but her views changed when Russia attacked. "I am still part of a peace movement but in the face of a dictatorship, you can't be defenceless." Frederika, former pacifist TOO LITTLE TOO LATE? Ever since war returned to Europe, Germany has been trying to respond. Large parts of the special €100bn fund for troops approved in 2022 have been allocated to important projects including air defence systems, heavy transport helicopters and light combat helicopters. To reinforce NATO's eastern flank, Germany will permanently station 5,000 troops in Lithuania in the next few years. The Oplan has been drawn up. There's a promise to boost the country's defence industry and efforts are being made to solve the military's personnel problem including a draft law trying to make serving more attractive. In a recent interview, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the demand by Donald Trump to boost defence spending to 5% saying the figure was unnecessary and unrealistic. But there's no denying the European powerhouse faces an uphill battle. Throw in a looming general election and likely regime change, and the challenge only grows bigger. Could Germany be war-ready in five to eight years? For some, the growing threats facing Europe mean it is no longer up for debate, it can't afford not to be. "The threat is imminent, we have to speed up," warns Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann. "We do not want the war. We must be ready to defend our country and NATO territory." Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann CREDITS Written by Siobhan Robbins, Europe correspondent Edited by: Serena Kutchinsky, assistant editor Produced by Siobhan Robbins and James Lillywhite Graphics: Johnathan Toolan, Luan Leer & Yetunde Adeleye Photography: Associated Press, Benno Bartocha/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Wolfgang Kumm/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Kira Hofmann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images, Jennifer Wetters, Adam Berry and Siobhan Robbins. Top Built with Shorthand

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