When parliamentarians request information about the Bundeswehr's weapons systems, the government regularly sees the “interests of the Federal Republic of Germany” at risk.
This assessment is the basis for classifying documents on the condition of the equipment or the status of a procurement as classified information ("classified information").
The classifications, which range from “For official use only” to “Confidential” to “Secret” and “Top secret”, make it difficult for the legislature to control the executive.
Members of parliament are only allowed to view documents from the “Confidential” level in the Bundestag's secret registry, and the content is only used to a limited extent.
However, a classification is not always really about the interests of the country.
It is not uncommon for political interests to be involved.
Because the "VS" stamp also helps to keep grievances under lock and key.
For example messed up arms deals.