Pistorius lets “Leos” count
Did Lambrecht prevent a main battle tank list?
01/21/2023, 8:30 p.m
Is the new Secretary of Defense having a main battle tank list made that has been around for a long time? Or did Pistorius’ predecessor Lambrecht ban a count to protect Chancellor Scholz? There is evidence for both readings, but both make the government look bad.
Because of its battle tank inventory announced eleven months after the beginning of the war, the federal government had to put up with the accusation of amateurishness. Different information circulated on the question of why the new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius from the SPD is only now issuing a test order for the “Leopard” availability. The “Business Insider” reports, citing insiders, that Pistorius’ predecessor, Christine Lambrecht, apparently banned an inventory of type 1 and 2 “leopards” a week before her resignation.
According to the report in the ministry, the possible reasons for this are that Chancellor Olaf Scholz should not be put under additional pressure in the question of possible deliveries of battle tanks to Ukraine. The concern of the SPD politician: If it had come out that the Bundeswehr was counting its operational tanks, that could have been interpreted as a willingness to deliver tanks. The report also states that Lambrecht had suggested counting the vehicles to Lambrecht in order to be able to provide information on the question of possible further deliveries.
The “Spiegel”, on the other hand, reports a detailed list of main battle tanks that the Ministry of Defense had already created in early summer 2022. The magazine refers to a classified table that lists various “Leopard” models that are available in the Bundeswehr and are eligible for delivery to Ukraine.
The FDP politician Marcus Faber had already told ntv on Friday that the “Leopard” stocks had long been checked. “Of course, the Federal Ministry of Defense knows how many tanks it has and what condition they are in,” says Faber. This has been examined extensively in recent weeks. “Obviously you still have to inform the minister so that he has a good basis for his decision.”
Classified information: There has been a table since early summer
According to the “Spiegel” report, the Bundeswehr has a total of 312 “Leopard 2” tanks of different series. According to the report, 99 of these were at the manufacturer’s for repair last May, and one was being discarded. The remaining 212 “Leopard 2” models are listed under the “Troop Stock” tab. Among these are the different models 2A5, 2A6, 2A7 and 2A7V – the latter is the most modern version of the weapon system. As of May 22, the troops had 53 of the “Leopard” variant 2A7V.
According to Bundeswehr insiders, the list already shows which models would be suitable for delivery to Ukraine. Accordingly, it is conceivable that the Bundeswehr could hand over the 19 “Leopard” 2A5 models. According to the list, these are currently used to “represent enemy forces” in the army’s combat training center, so they simulate enemy tanks during maneuvers. The troops say that the 2A5 models are best left out because they are only used for exercises.
If the “Leopard” list already exists, Pistorius would have to explain himself. Should the list not exist on Lambrecht’s instructions, the chancellor would be put in a bad light. Until the resolution is on the table, international pressure on Berlin will continue to increase. Pistorius received support from the SPD: the minister’s inspection order was not meant to mean that Pistorius had to start counting tanks. “It’s about putting together meaningful packages to support Ukraine in coordination with partners. And that has to be prepared,” said foreign policymaker Nils Schmid on Deutschlandfunk.