**The Hague, Netherlands** – A report presented to the German parliament on Tuesday revealed that while the German military has continued its rearmament efforts, it is still facing significant personnel shortages. The report highlighted the country’s increased military engagement, including its navy’s first-ever live fire in a combat scenario.
**Key Details**: The report was presented by **Eva Högel**, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, whose office is responsible for overseeing the German military. Since **Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022**, Germany has markedly shifted its military policy, boosting its budget by hundreds of billions of Euros and adopting a more assertive international military role.
**Recent Developments**: In **fall 2022**, Germany ratified an agreement for its first-ever brigade, consisting of **5,000 troops**, to be permanently stationed abroad, with facilities currently under construction in **Lithuania**. The navy’s frigate **Hessen** engaged in combat for the first time while on a mission in the **Red Sea** to safeguard shipping routes against attacks from **Yemeni Houthi rebels**.
**Defense Spending**: According to the report, Germany’s defense budget for **2024** reached the NATO target of **2% of GDP**, amounting to over **€69 billion** (approximately **$75.4 billion USD**). Approximately a quarter of this funding originated from a special fund of **€100 billion** ($109 billion) announced by Chancellor **Olaf Scholz** after the onset of the Ukraine invasion. The report pointed out that only roughly **18%** of this fund remains.
**Procurement Efforts**: The German government approved a record **97 major procurement decisions last year**, up from **55** in the previous year, focusing heavily on air defense capabilities. In **2024**, Germany committed to purchasing the **Skyranger 30** from Rheinmetall and the **Arrow 3** from Israel, along with new **Leopard** main battle tanks and **22 self-propelled howitzers** intended to replace those sent to Ukraine.
**Staffing Challenges**: Despite an **8% increase** in recruitment, which brought in over **20,000 new personnel**, a quarter of them left after their six-month probation. Nearly **20%** of non-enlisted and **28%** of enlisted positions remained unfilled, meaning the Bundeswehr is **21,826 personnel** short of its target of **203,000 active members**.
**Structural Changes**: The report also noted a significant reform with the elevation of the cyber warfare arm to a full branch of the German military, joining the Luftwaffe, navy, and land forces.
**Extremism Issues**: A troubling aspect of the report discussed cases of **neo-Nazi sympathies** within the military and the slow response to addressing these issues. An amendment to the **Soldiers Act** allows for quicker enforcement against identified extremism, which is considered essential for maintaining constitutional integrity within the armed forces.
**Future Outlook**: The incoming governing coalition of conservatives and social democrats is committed to revitalizing Germany’s military capabilities. Incoming Chancellor **Friedrich Merz** has proposed exempting defense spending from the debt ceiling, a significant shift in policy for Germany.
**Author’s Background**: Linus Höller, the author of the report, serves as a Europe correspondent for Defense News, focusing on international security and military affairs across the continent. He holds an academic background in journalism and political science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nonproliferation and terrorism studies.
