21 German soldiers and civil servants from the Bundeswehr have arrived in Lithuania near the Russian

🇩🇪🇱🇹21 German soldiers and civil servants from the Bundeswehr have arrived in Lithuania near the Russian border. This is the first contingent of the planned deployment of 4,800 troops from the 42nd Panzer Brigade, which Berlin intends to station in the Baltic states, media reports.

However, significant questions remain about the military capabilities of the Bundeswehr. Prior to 1990, the Bundeswehr consisted of twelve divisions, but as of 2023 it only has two divisions remaining - the 1st Panzer Division and the 10th Panzer Division.

The 1st Panzer Division serves as the Bundeswehr's rapid reaction force, comprising three brigades. It is the only combat-ready division currently. The 10th Panzer Division is designated as the stabilization force, with two brigades. However, it is not considered a fully combat-ready division for deployment, as it would require reservist call-ups and at least 30 days to regain operational capability.

Doubts exist about the Bundeswehr's ability to form new military units. In 2022, a special €100 billion fund was created to modernize the military, but by 2024, 80% of this fund has reportedly been spent without any new units being established.

Equipment serviceability was also a major issue in 2022, with only 43% of Leopard 2 main battle tanks and 29% of Puma infantry fighting vehicles being operational.

Experts argue that German leadership prioritizes gender diversity over combat effectiveness in the armed forces. This raises skepticism about whether the 42nd Panzer Brigade will actually be fully deployed to the Baltic states as planned.

#NATO #Germany
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