berlin brief

With Minister of Defence zu Guttenberg revealing his plans to modernize the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, on Monday, the summer break is officially over.

The minister kicked off what will become a foreign policy debate touching on the very foundations of Germany’s security identy.

Guttenberg’s plans include a de facto end to mandatory conscription. His suggestions are controversial even within his own camp.

Spiegel Online International’s “The World from Berlin” media review has compiled commentary on the issue in Germany’s major newspapers: “Germany Weighs the Elimination of Conscription” (24 August 2010).

Guttenberg’s reform plans are “regarded as one of the most radical military shake-ups since the end of the Cold War”, writes Judy Dempsey: “Germany Plans Major Restructuring of Military” (International Herald Tribune, 23 August 2010).

The berlinbrief will follow up soon with the reactions of the political parties.

The future of the German armed forces, the “Bundeswehr”, has been an issue of debate for many years. How can the country provide for a modern army, capable and equipped to carry out its duties in missions abroad?

The need for budget cuts has now added fresh thoughts to the debate. Minister of Defense zu Guttenberg has shown openness to discuss Germany’s concept of compulsory military service. An army of professional soldiers would mean a major turn in the country’s political culture, where many believe an army needs to be rooted in society. Chancellor Merkel is reportedly not happy with her minister’s push.

But there are also other suggestions on the table, e.g. cutting down the number of soldiers by half, which has been discussed by the cabinet before the summer break.

The future of the Bundeswehr will be a major policy issue in the second half of 2010, when a report is expected to be published by zu Guttenberg’s ministry with proposals to reform both command and administrative structures.

If the minister wants to turn the armed forces into an army of professionals, he will need a long breath. Heated debates are to be expected later this year.

Spiegel International has published a couple of articles on the issue. The first one is a particularly insightful read, as it explains the background of German political culture and its armed forces:

“Dodging the Draft: Conscription Debate Divides German Conservatives.” (Spiegel Online International, 29 July 2010).

“In Retreat: German Military Reform Could Halve Ground Forces.” (Spiegel Online International, 9 August 2010).

Also, read Judy Dempsey in the International Herald Tribune (18 August 2010).

May 9th, 1950 was a revolutionary day for Europe. 60 years ago, the then French Foreign Minister Rober Schuman with a visionary speech in Paris laid the foundations for the peaceful re-unification of the European continent devastated by two wars. Across the European Union, the first week of May is celebrated every year as “European week”.

In 2010, the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration collides with one of the most severe crises in the history of the  European Union. Tomorrow, on the eve of May 9th, European leaders will gather in Brussels to take stock of this week’s events: the billion euro bailout package agreed for Greece, the riots and dead in Athens, and a growing uncertainty about the future of the single currency.

On this day, the berlinbrief recalls the courageous plan of the Union’s founding fathers.

Here is the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 in full length: (more…)

US General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, believed it was worth spending 14 hours on a bus to make it from Paris to Berlin last week. Europe was stuck in an ash cloud that stopped most of its air traffic.

McChrystal’s visit on 21 April 2010 came at a crucial moment of Germany’s engagament in Afghanistan. Within a couple of weeks, seven German soldiers have lost their lives there. On 9 April 2010, Chancellor Merkel for the first time attended a funeral for German soldiers that died in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. On 24 April 2010, another one followed.

The German public is increasingly confronted with the realities of the war in Afghanistan. McChrystal’s visit was another reminder of what it means to be part of the ISAF mission’s new “partnering” strategy. (more…)

I would like to draw your attention to a new development in the controversy regarding Adolf Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf”.

So far, it has been banned from the bookshelves in Germany. But in 2015, the copyright held by the Bavarian government will expire and the Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich, a renowned research institute for contemporary history, is planning to publish an annotated version.

The Free State of Bavaria is opposing this project.

Take a look at Nicholas Kulish’s piece in today’s International Herald Tribune: “Rebuffing Scholars, Germany Vows to Keep Hitler Out of Print”.

Constanze Stelzenmüller, a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin and a regular commentator on German foreign and security policy, has just published an interesting set of theses.

Her article “The self captivated republic” (”Die selbstgefesselte Republik”) appeared in the new issue of the journal Internationale Politik, published by the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin.

Here’s a brief translation of her five theses:

1. German security policy has not arrived at full sovereignty yet.

2. Germany does not have a security strategy.

3. Germany’s security elites and institutions are under-developed.

4. The ability to be part of alliances depends on our willingness to share an appropriate part of the risks.

5. The instruments of our security policy are inadequate even in accordance with our current ambitions.

You can read the full text here (in German only).

On 13 January 2010 Ms Stelzenmüller presented her thoughts to a distiguished audience at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), where she initiated a lively debate.

I bet you are surprised to hear that Germany does not have a national security strategy. Well, not yet.

So far, there is only a White Paper on Germany’s security policy published by the Ministry of Defence in 2006 and a failed attempt by the Conservative group in the Bundestag in 2008 to trigger a debate on the topic that is hugely controversial in Germany. (Take a look at the group’s agenda, English version in the right column of the page)

Since the devastating experience of the Holocaust and WWII, German political culture is based on the concept of Germany as a “Zivilmacht” (civil power). (more…)

I want to draw your attention to an article by Nicholas Kulish in the New York Times.

Kulish looks at the role of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, in the German society and discusses the country’s attitude to military missions abroad:

“The German men and women in Afghanistan set off for war without the support of the populace, and they know that when they return there won’t be crowds cheering in the streets, ready to make heroes of them. Germany has turned its back on hero worship. The soldiers fight alone.”

Read the full article here:

Nicholas Kulish: No Parade for Hans (NYT, 14 November 2009).

Berliners together with visitors from across the globe today celebrate the night of 9 November, 1989, when the citizens of the GDR made the Wall crumble and fall.

There is a lot of international attention on the event that marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War in Europe. Here’s a selected list of documentaries and articles that I enjoyed:

A visibly confused Günter Schabowski announcing the new travel regulation in a press conference on 9 November, 1989 (in German).

The opening of the Wall at Berlin Bornholmer Straße border crossing on 9 November, 1989. Material of Western cameramen on YouTube (with English subtitles).

Tom Brokaw on the fall of the Berlin Wall at the 2009 Atlantic Council Awards Dinner: go to YouTube.

Excess Baggage: Berlin (31 October 2009). BBC Radio 4’s travel series on the German capital 20 years on.

The Day the Wall Fell (3 November 2009). BBC Radio 2 documentary presented by Jeremy Vine.

Find more BBC special reports on 1989 here.

The Legacy of 1989 is Still Up for Debate. Steven Erlanger in the IHT (9 November, 2009).

After the Wall Fell: Central Europe’s Success Deserves More Attention. Anne Applebaum in The Washington Post (9 November 2009).

Walesa: Collaps of the Berlin Wall ‘Saved’ Solidarnosc. Elizabeth Pond Writes for EurActiv Germany (9 November 2009).

Berlin is again discussing the role of a German colonel during an ISAF airstrike on two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban two months ago.

On Thursday 3 September, 2009, the Taliban fighters hijacked the tankers on the road to Kunduz. The Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces in the area, requested air support from NATO. ISAF troops responded with an airstrike the next morning. The Afghan government says there was a significant number of casualties, including civilians. In an immediate reaction, then German Minister of Defence Franz-Josef Jung (CDU) denied that there had been civilian casualties and rejected criticism saying that Colonel Klein’s decision to ask for air support was inappropriate. (see berlinbrief of 8 September, 2009)

Yesterday, the confidential report by NATO that investigated the case was handed over to the Bundestag, the German parliament. (more…)