How Germany is preparing for today’s conflict as threats rise

After more than three and a half years of war in Ukraine and facing a threat from Russia, the German armed forces, or Bundeswehr, have had to rethink their operational plans.

A forward-based military inspector says: “Effectiveness takes more than cover, because no one wins in a reconstituted army,” said the army’s enlisted inspector, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, about being involved in active combat.

If the military defense of Germany and its NATO allies ever wanted, waiting in a safe field camp during foreign missions – the traditional focus of the Bundeswehr – would not be the way, he notes.

Now Shift has been looking at the challenges of national defense and NATO. A German combat brigade has been stationed in Lithuania and discussions continue on how Germany is involved in Ukraine’s security guarantees.

Youth is very important

Reemployment efforts, long similar to those of the average employer, are also military oriented.

“I believe that all our soldiers know what they can face. And we see that. In conversations with young people,” Mais told DPA.

“Anyone who signs the Bundeswehr today knows that there is a war in Europe.”

Tensions have risen in recent months. Sabotage and espionage in Germany, the sight of many drones in all European airports in many parts of Europe and preparations for possible military incidents, are changing the armed forces.

Lessons are drawn from the bloody self-defense wars of the Ukrainian people. Military conflict can also start during the promiscuous period.

“We must know that when the bell rings, it can find us in the kingdom as much as possible or less than the right time. Managers must be mentally prepared.

In order to withstand the attacks of the Russian military – and even to ensure the exposure – there must be a determination or “mind” without weapons, Mais adds.

It is like an attitude – the willingness to protect even in the most demanding situations – sometimes a humane value – for people. The deep earth community is fighting this.

Fighting the opponent: a job like no other

Sergeant Majyonk Jan Hecht experienced such a situation during a patrol in Afghanistan in the summer of 2009. “The fighting continued for five hours, five policemen, who were awarded the cross of honor for bravery.

He and his platoon of 36

Hecht ordered his team to go up and try to fight their team in the rematch group.

As they approached, they soon came under heavy enemy fire: about 80 attackers – this was determined later – planned an ambush.

He remembers: “Time and space are difficult to explain retroactively. It is a situation where time is invisible,” he recounts. “Sometimes it goes by so fast. And then there are stages that seem to last forever, and you feel like hours have passed. In fact, it’s only been minutes.”

The soldiers fought for free but were later drawn into a second battle.

There are no emotions like anger or rage

“The first encounter with the enemy, with fire everywhere, is very natural. Everything that follows? Everything that follows? Everything that follows.

“The purpose of drill training is to use chaotic situations without thinking about your actions. And a combat situation is too deep to think about what to do next.”

Hecht notes that he didn’t feel emotions like rage or anger, but instead experienced hours of adrenaline and high stress, where he remained emotionless.

“There is a certain determination you have to show to survive in such a situation. If you can’t give yourself up, you might hesitate, you might be dangerous,” said the soldier.

“Courage is a visible process”

So far, 33 soldiers have been awarded the cross of honor. They serve as role models for the armed forces for initiative, leadership and general courage. All soldiers swear an oath to be brave.

“Courage is an enlightening process. It involves coming to terms with something that is likely to hurt someone,” Mais said.

“When courage is added to face a certain situation, we have people who are able to achieve something surprising. People who put themselves second in special situations to protect their comrades, or carry out missions despite great resistance.”