Defense: Too head -heavy: examiners demand “more troops” in the Bundeswehr

The Federal Audit Office criticizes a “headless” in the German armed forces and calls for the Ministry of Defense “more troops” for the military core order. In a special report, Germany’s budget auditor also warn of the risk that the “signal of unlimited debt possibilities” will lead to increasing prices in the defense area. The authority states: “In any case, incentives for industry to demand higher prices for constant services are expected due to almost unlimited financial resources and increased demand.”

In order to re-invest the Bundeswehr in response to the threat of Russia to the state and alliance defense, so-called special funds of 100 billion euros had only been made available. Then a loosening of the debt brake for defense spending was also decided.

With the new report, however, the Federal Audit Office shows that the need for action, which cannot be dissolved through additional financial resources and which goes beyond the areas of armor, infrastructure and operation, as it is said.

Is the personnel structure still in balance?

The financial guards are calling for a comprehensive criticism of task, which cannot be recognized. “Defense important things are to be separated from less important. There are still far -reaching changes in the organization and staff to make the Bundeswehr fit for their core order with more troops,” warns the president of the Federal Audit Office, Kay Scheller.

Initial progress in the material equipment of the Bundeswehr and the additional money should not hide the need for action for organization and staff. And: “In order to align the Bundeswehr to state and alliance defense, the personnel body must be converted: away from the current headgown, towards more” troop “.”

Compared to 2010, the armed forces were less available in 2024 in 2024 positions for soldiers, the report said. This corresponds to a decrease of 24 percent. While the number of positions for the team and non-commissioned officer level fell by 40 or 20 percent in the same period, the number of positions for the officer and staff officer level increased by a total of 5 percent.

The proportion of positions for the officer and staff officer level in the armed forces grew from 15 percent in 2010 to 21 percent in 2024. “As a result, the military personnel body is much more head-heavy today than in 2010,” criticize the auditor.

Ministry not streamlined

At the same time, several ten thousand posts are currently still intended for tasks in the Bundeswehr that do not have to be perceived after the assessment of the Ministry of Defense in the event of the state and alliance defense. The examiners find: “This size is unacceptable.”

The Federal Audit Office has also taken a look at the ministry, which – unlike announced and has been reached in the meantime – did not become slimmer. In 2017, around 2,500 posts were found as “adequate staffing”. Nevertheless, the house with around 3,000 posts is now comparable again as in 2012.

The “endowment structure of the military personnel body” is also criticized, in which tasks are increasingly assigned to the agricultural or better paid soldiers in order to increase the attractiveness of these places. Nevertheless, many positions remained vacant. A increased number of professional soldiers ensure an increased average age.

Examiners criticize debt plans

The Federal Audit Office is also critical of the new debt and states: “A permanent and solid financing of the defense capacity of the Federal Republic of Germany is not guaranteed by a significantly debt -financed and therefore structurally not sustainable household.”

They also provide current figures on defense spending. According to the Federal Government’s spring, two percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2028 corresponded to expenditure of 96 billion euros. Three percent of GDP would be expenditure of 144 billion euros.

For comparison: The previous draft budget 2025 provides for expenditure of 53.3 billion euros for the defense budget (individual plan 14). According to the previous draft of the business plan, 22 billion euros for 2025 are to be added from the special fund.

No “non -defense” expenses

In the future budget constellation, care must be taken to ensure that the individual plan 14 is not expanded to include “non -defense” expenses, the Federal Audit Office demands. These expenses would have no or only indirect connection to defense ability. For example, the main purpose of a motorway bridge, even if military transportation can roll over them, are not in defense ability.