The German Inspector of the Army, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais (left), with Norwegian Major General Lars Lervik and Dutch Lieutenant General Martin Wijnen during a visit to the NATO multinational battle group in Rukla, Lithuania, in December 2021
Image: dpa
Germany’s top army soldier has harshly criticized the years of neglect of the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr is “more or less blank” in the Ukraine crisis.
VAgainst the background of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Army Inspector Alfons Mais has criticized the years of neglect in the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr with unusual severity. “In my 41st year of peacetime service, I would not have believed that I would have to experience another war. And the Bundeswehr, the army that I am allowed to lead, is more or less blank,” wrote the lieutenant general on Thursday in the Linkedin network. “The policy options we can offer in support of the alliance are extremely limited.”
Germany’s top army soldier went on to write: “We all saw it coming and were unable to get our arguments through, to draw and implement the conclusions of the Crimean annexation. That doesn’t feel good! I’m eaten!”
NATO territory is not yet under direct threat, even if the partners in the east feel the constantly growing pressure. Mais: “If not now, when is the time to leave the Afghanistan mission behind us structurally and materially and to reposition ourselves, otherwise we will not be able to implement our constitutional mandate and our alliance obligations with any chance of success.”