Germany’s armed forces face a significant personnel shortfall, prompting criticism of Defence Minister Boris Pistorius from the Association of Civil Servants and Soldiers of the Bundeswehr (VBB). The VBB argues the current focus on recruitment overlooks critical internal reforms necessary to optimize existing resources.
In an interview, VBB Federal Chairwoman Imke von Bornstaedt-Küpper expressed concern over the number of military personnel assigned to administrative roles. She questioned why, despite increasing pressure from NATO, a fundamental review hasn’t been undertaken to identify soldiers who could be more effectively deployed back to operational units. Von Bornstaedt-Küpper stated the armed forces have, in recent years, increasingly absorbed bureaucratic tasks, essentially “self-demilitarizing.
Illustrating this point, she cited the limited operational readiness of the navy’s submarine fleet, noting that only one in six submarines currently has a fully staffed crew, while numerous qualified submarine operators are assigned to staff positions. The VBB estimates that reallocating personnel from administrative roles could free up thousands of soldiers, significantly enhancing overall readiness.
Von Bornstaedt-Küpper stressed the need for proactive leadership from the Defence Ministry, stating that military reform requires decisive action and will not occur organically. She called on Minister Pistorius to demonstrate greater commitment to internal restructuring as a means of addressing the ongoing personnel challenges.