In the fall of this year, the German Navy will appoint a new chief. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has chosen Counter‑Admiral Wilhelm Tobias Abry for the post of Marineinspekteur, as reported by “Der Spiegel”. The appointment is expected to be announced formally a few months later.
Abry will succeed Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, who is retiring at the age of 63. The 58‑year‑old career officer currently serves as the deputy head of the Armed Forces in the Ministry of Defence. In the past, he has held a number of national and international assignments, including participation in the anti‑piracy mission “Atalanta” off the coast of Somalia.
As inspector, Abry faces a demanding task. The navy has been strained by a decade of budget cuts, leaving its existing warships insufficient to meet new NATO commitments. Admiral Kaack had previously presented an ambitious modernization plan to bring the fleet up to the required standards. That plan will also guide Abry’s future work, calling for extensive material and personnel expansion through 2035.