Bundeswehr troubles. Experts criticize the German defense minister
The Americans appreciated Alfons Mais's work. In 2024, the German Land Forces inspector was awarded the Legion of Merit by the Chief of Staff of the US Army – for the second time in his term, which began in 2020.
According to the justification, he earned not only “exceptional merits” for military cooperation with the USA and the training of Ukrainian soldiers, but also modernization and increasing the operational readiness of the German army.
Bundeswehr faces serious challenges, which is why his persistent commitment to German government leadership and the defense industry are “of key importance for German efforts to modernize artillery, air defense and safe communication on the battlefield.” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius apparently has a different opinion about Mais.
On Tuesday, the minister sent the general for an early retirement. He was more and more dissatisfied with “persistent involvement in the affairs of German government leadership.” From what the Americans found as worthy of distinctions. Pistorius wants to focus on his progress in the reorganization of the armed forces, which are only partly ready to defend. On the other hand, Mais repeatedly pointed to the discrepancy between political intentions and operational reality.
Gen. Lieutenant Alfons Mais at a press conference at the airport in Vilnius, April 8, 2024.
His famous diagnosis from the morning on February 24, 2022, i.e. the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that the German army is “more or less naked”, was regularly supplemented with further observations about the state of the army. Mais referred to the consequences of selling weapons to Ukraine, indicating bureaucratic obstacles and structural deficits, long delivery dates in the industry and insufficient orders. In April this year he stated: “We are not in a much better situation today than we were in February 2022”.
Mais's strategic communication, consisting in creating pressure through internal and public names, for a long time was useful for politicians. However, now, when no one has illusions about Germany's defense capabilities, and the Ministry of Defense has unlimited financial resources, such references are perceived as annoying. Unconditional loyalty and stories about success are needed.
Now the minister has the right to choose generals who fit his concept. But Maisa's dismissal is reproducing for observers and experts. Pistorius found only modest praise for the general's “commitment” and expressed the expectation that his successor, Maj. Christian Freuding will bring “additional momentum and changes to the army's projects”.
Military historian Soenke Neitzel believes that Mais deserved another medal, not such a cheek. – he commanded the army for a good five years and He was one of the few older generals who spoke uncomfortable truths both before and behind the scenes – says. In this way, he “forced politicians to be honest. His successor must still be brave and uncomfortable. Because in the end the lives of his soldiers depend on him.”
Hans-Peter Bartels, president of the Security Policy Society, praises General Mais as “an outstanding army reformer. Why the three ministers he was subject to during his term believed that they know better than military experts, remains a mystery.”
– Mais achieved a lot, but Political decision -makers still sometimes behave as if the compromise and the means of the middle are commonplace – criticizes Bartels politicians, in the past associated with SPD.
Boris Pistorius does not improve the functioning of the ministry at all
However, Pistorius is currently reorganizing something different, namely its own ministry – and for the second time. He apparently shares the criticism of the Federal Account Court, who assessed the first reform of the minister of May 2024 as “cosmetic” and far from actual requirements. Pistorius, however, is not applied to the recommendations of the auditors to slim down the structure of the ministry and the entire service, but continues the expansion.
The number of secretaries in the civil service will be increased from two to three, and between this level of management and departments an additional decision -making body will be introduced, the so -called Directors of departments, which is unlikely to speed up the processes. On the other hand The army itself loses its influence. Although the general inspector remains formally part of the organization's management, de facto He is only the head of the department. Power focuses in the hands of three civil law officials.
As for communication, the ministry focuses on something else, such as the promotion of Nicole Schilling as the deputy general inspector. This is the first time a woman was appointed for this positionwhich pleases activists for the promotion of women in the ranks of SPD.
The minister's party plays a special role here. At the last party conference Comrades from SPD fought fiercely against compulsory military service. According to the resolution “there should be no legal possibility of calling conscripts” until “all means of voluntary increase in number” are exhausted. How Pistorius is to lead the Volunteer Army – which has been in stagnation at the level of approx. 180 thousand for years. soldiers – 260,000 for the new goal soldiers, remains an open issue.
The social democratic faction in the Bundestag supports the minister in his pursuit of remaining the most popular politician in Germany. In the SPD budget committee, she won the CDU/CSU plan saving the Ministry of Defense on bothersome reporting obligations towards the Parliament in the future.
Therefore, the Commission no longer considers the report of the Ministry of Defense “regarding the acceleration and optimization of orders in the Bundeswehra” as necessary. The defense report introduced in 2014 by the then minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) as part of modern risk management in orders of weapon systems is also classified as unnecessary bureaucracy.
Ursula von der Leyen as a minister of defense during a meeting of the German Bundestag. Berlin, January 16, 2014
– Radically abolishing reporting obligations, the coalition weakens the budget committee, and ultimately the entire parliament – believes Sebastian Schaefer, a representative of the Green in the Commission. In his opinion, especially in unlimited loans in the defense sector “Effective and strict control is necessary“.
This state of affairs, of course, very much corresponds to Minister Pistorius. If he no longer has to disclose the parliamentarians the progress of his defense projects, there is a greater chance that delays, increase in costs and the state of operational readiness will remain hidden from the public.
Chadekom does not like the decisions of Minister Pistorius
CDU/CSU politicians, at least those outside the budget committee, seem to see that the minister is working according to the motto: no one should be able to determine whether I work effectively or not.
Thomas Erndl from CSU, spokesman for the defense of the Christian Defense Fraction, is certainly not satisfied with the recent moves of the minister. This mainly applies to Mais's case. “Personal decisions at the Ministry of Defense are a surprise,” says Erndl. – Gen. Mais clearly and clearly called for changes and showed great commitment to the German army in the political arena. The good of the soldiers under his command has always been his highest priority.
This also applies to the reorganization of the ministry. – reorganization in the ministry structure must always strive for a clear goal, which it is Promoting operational readiness and Bundeswehr's ability to developand should be carried out with the support of parliament – emphasizes the CSU politician. – Military, realistic and clear consulting, which we always received from generals, including General Maisa, are of particular importance here.
Erndl and his party colleagues are “very skeptical towards thought models that seek to weaken the position of the general inspector at the organization management level.” It will only turn out if something will come out of this skepticism.
