In the air is the re -equipment of Germany -ly and so all of the EU- on the part of increasing the crowd of soldier.
So today the decisions of the summit between the US, the EU, Germany, France, etc. will be anxiously awaited, part of which will probably be the mission of a French -German power to Ukraine to safeguard peace, but it is rather uncertain that, if any, the Germany of the Germans, and more than the Germans.
It is such a political inability of Berlin to increase the multitude of its troops with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) calls on businesses to provide greater support to Bundeswehr, asking companies to release staff for reserve. The reason for this is that because of the threat from Russia, the German government wants to significantly expand the German Armed Forces, according to Handelsblatt.
Current discussions about possible European security guarantees for Ukraine make this even more urgent. However, a significant increase in staff requires tens of thousands of new reserves each year.
Handelsblatt’s survey shows that the willingness of the business community is very high – and many companies have long been working with their own initiatives to strengthen the German federal army (Bundeswehr).
For example, companies such as Deutsche Bahn, Trumpf, Amazon and Covestro are willing to release employees ten days a year for service or training in reserve.
However, the Bundeswehr has so far stood up to its bureaucracy: there is still no system for recruiting, registering and supporting candidates for companies. “We are strangling ourselves with our own regulations,” he criticized a high -ranking Bundeswehr executive.
Specific examples of companies show how it is still possible to quickly replenish Bundeswehr’s reserve units with the help of the private sector.
At the end of June, on the day of the German industry, Chancellor Merz openly called on the business community to get more involved: “Money is not the main problem we will face in the Bundeswehr in the coming years. The main problem is specialized staff, “Merz said. “Ladies and gentlemen, including employees in your companies. And you need to be prepared to give these workers the opportunity to train with the Armed Forces from time to time – to make us more capable of defending us. “
The appeal was accepted with enthusiasm by many heads of companies. “Entrepreneurs want to take responsibility for the safety of our country,” said Peter Libinger, head of the German federation. And in many places, they already do it.
Lufthansa is working with the administration of the Hesse State
“As a civil society, and therefore as a company, we should actively contribute to the security architecture in Germany,” Michael Niggemann, Lufthansa Human Resources Manager, told Handelsblatt. The company based in Frankfurt has agreed in cooperation with the administration of the state of the German armed forces just a few weeks ago. The aim is to support the 5th Internal Security Constitution there with reservations for the volunteer army. Discussions with the Armed Forces for similar cooperation are ongoing in other locations, such as Munich and Hamburg.
The Orsted Wind Energy Company is now organizing even rounds of discussion, exercises and seminars with Bundeswehr. “We are now trying to introduce new leaders to the Bundeswehr structure. They have to learn the language, its abbreviations and its grades, “says Jörg Kubitza, head of the German Armed Forces. This is becoming increasingly important, especially in the field of critical infrastructure.
Companies such as Deutsche Bahn, Amazon, McKinsey Consulting Company and newly established Drone Quantum Systems company have long created their own personnel for recruiting people with military training and then actively supporting their service as bodies.
The Bilfinger industrial group also wants to work more closely with the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). “People who serve as reserve or extraordinary soldiers receive further training and guidance – in teamwork and leading skills. We can only benefit from this to the company, “Bilfinger’s chief executive Thomas Schulz said in an interview with Handelsblatt.
The 60 -year -old manager recently participated in a six -day Bundeswehr exercise and made it public to draw more attention to the issue.
Bundeswehr designs 460,000 long -term soldiers
By the end of June, the Bundeswehr had nearly 182,000 active soldiers, including military, extraordinary soldiers and volunteers. In addition, there are rescudies who have received military training at some point and can be called upon to support the troops if needed. A total of 90,000 seats include a total of reinforcement and staff, of which only about 50,000 were covered last year.
Because the threat has deteriorated significantly due to Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine, the number of both soldiers and reserves is expected to increase several times in the coming years, according to the objectives of the NATO defense alliance.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Germany’s long -term contribution to the alliance’s defense will require about 460,000 troops – about 260,000 to active troops and 200,000 to the reserves, who, according to the plans of the Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, will be reached.
“First of all, we see a great willingness to take responsibility among companies,” the German reserve union also said in response to a question. Many companies have now approached the Bundeswehr and offer their cooperation.
A project team in the Bundeswehr State Administration in Hesse studied the relationship between businesses and army for several years and concluded that at the end of last year 60% of employers in all areas would be willing to grant the reserves at least ten days of license per year. Experts conclude that this could hire 40,000 to 50,000 reserves for internal security units and other backup units in just one year.
“We are drowning with our own regulations”
The problem lies in the Bundeswehr, which is simply unprepared for the growing number of applicants. Many applications remain unanswered for months. “There are many stakeholders, but the regulations prevent most from being accepted by the system,” a high -ranking Bundeswehr member complains. For example, if their military grade is too low or their age is supposed to be very high.
A good example of this is Jörg Kubitza. The German chief of the largest wind farm operator in the world, Orsted, is a reserve officer himself. When he wanted to return to the service six years ago after a break related to his career, his request remained pending for four years.
“Input obstacles are designed to apply to the rule,” Kubitza criticizes. “Anything outside the rule goes through his hand.” The fact that the then almost 48 -year -old, in addition to his military training, held a managerial position in Orsted, a critical infrastructure company with several thousand officials, was probably something that the responsible officer could not even understand: “This initially left me speechless.”
Kubitza again joined the reserve by the end of last year.
Many backgrounds report similar experiences. Practically they have to chase the Bundeswehr to join the reserve. Even the Bundeswehr now seems to know these problems.
The necessary structures are created, a spokesman said in response to a question. “In order to reduce the bureaucracy located in the area of the Reserve and to make it possible to communicate with the reserves, various digitization projects are currently being promoted.” However, this initially applies only to the reserves already registered. A targeted program for the recruitment of workers in companies is planned. The spokesman merely points out a two -page brochure as a basic source of information for employers.
The project from Hesse has developed specific proposals for solutions. An important step would be to introduce a system for communicating with private sector companies. However, urgent campaigns are also needed, creating call centers and, above all, greater flexibility in examining applications. However, none of them have been implemented so far.