Bundeswehr: Defense Commissioner Eva Högl takes a critical look at modernization

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Military Commissioner Högl visits the Air Force's Object Protection Regiment "Friesland"

Photo: Sina Schuldt / picture alliance/dpa

The Bundestag's Armed Forces Commissioner, Eva Högl, is calling for faster modernization of the Bundeswehr and an accelerated increase in the budget for the armed forces.

In her annual report for 2023, which the former SPD member of the Bundestag presented this Tuesday, she criticizes that the turning point announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz has hardly been received by the troops so far.

"I can't help but notice that substantial improvements in personnel, materials and infrastructure are still to come in the second year of the new era," writes Högl in the 174-page report.

Högl's report can definitely be read as an interim report card for the Chancellor and his Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (both SPD).

Högl admits that important steps have been taken, for example for the rapid procurement of military equipment.

At the same time, however, it will “take time before the effects reach the troops.”

Högl sharply criticizes that the progress has “so far been selective rather than comprehensive, on the surface rather than in substance.”

A little later in the report, she calls the successes in modernization “manageable.”

Högl does not yet see any positive effects

Högl is critical of the reform initiated by Pistorius in the procurement of military material.

The Defense Minister had ordered that the sometimes endless procedures for purchasing new weapons systems be shortened.

In addition, more systems than before will be bought “off the shelf”.

Högl does not yet see any positive effects of the measures.

“It remains to be seen whether the decision will lead to less bureaucracy and simpler and faster procedures,” she writes in her annual report.

Högl specifically addresses the precarious situation in many Bundeswehr barracks.

“The infrastructure is disastrous in many places,” she reports of her more than 130 visits to troops.

As examples, she cites barracks with dilapidated rooms, moldy showers and clogged toilets.

“It is partly shameful and completely inappropriate for the service of our men and women to see the poor condition that the barracks in Germany are in,” she writes.

Although there are plans to improve the situation, they would take too long.

The military representative is seen as a kind of suggestion box in the troops.

Every day they receive dozens of submissions from soldiers pointing out grievances.

Högl also writes in her report that parents of soldiers repeatedly wrote to her about the barracks.

But Högl doesn't offer much hope for quick relief.

“Unfortunately, dilapidated barracks and service buildings are still far too often a reality,” says their report.

“Still a lot to do”

Högl's reports about the Bundeswehr's equipment situation are particularly serious.

When it comes to personnel, materials and infrastructure, she writes in the Defense Minister's task list, there is still "a lot to be done."

Despite the acceleration in procurement, the gaps can probably only be closed “in the medium term”.

Högl cites a troop visit to Lithuania as an example.

Soldiers there reported to her that they were carrying another Marder infantry fighting vehicle specifically for the mission to strengthen NATO's eastern flank, so that they could cannibalize it as a spare parts warehouse if necessary.

“There must be no new underfinancing after 2027.”

Eva Högl, Bundestag Commissioner for the Armed Forces

According to Högl, even the forces of the rapid reaction force Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), which Germany has reported to NATO as ready for deployment, are experiencing glaring material shortages.

The military commissioner cites complaints from soldiers who are not equipped with a long weapon and a handgun.

The situation is similarly precarious when it comes to urgently needed night vision devices for the prestige unit.

The Commissioner for the Armed Forces warned that the Bundeswehr was still a long way from the goal of being fully equipped, so the force would not be able to fulfill the task of national and alliance defense.

In the final sections of her report, Högl also describes how much the Ukraine aid is putting a strain on the Bundeswehr.

Apart from the material donations, which are only slowly being procured, the training of Ukrainian associations is a demanding task.

More than 1,500 soldiers will be permanently deployed to train Ukrainians in 2023.

“Due to the retention of personnel, the troops had to postpone, shorten or cancel various of their own training projects,” writes Högl.

Such “displacement effects” urgently need to be compensated for, she demands.

For Defense Minister Pistorius, the military commissioner's report illustrates how many fronts he is currently under fire on.

Högl describes in detail the previously unsuccessful attempts to recruit more personnel for the force through advertising campaigns and simpler application procedures.

“Unfortunately, the hoped-for success has not yet materialized,” Högl states succinctly.

The number of applicants continues to decline slightly, and the dropout rate is far too high, especially in the first few months of training.

Nevertheless, there is political news in the report that Pistorius should like.

Similar to himself, the military commissioner is also calling for a significant increase in the defense budget.

From 2027 at the latest, when the 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr has been used up, the defense department's individual plan must increase significantly, she writes.

Högl's demand for more money for the Bundeswehr is pretty clear: "There should be no renewed underfunding after 2027."