BERLIN – The German armed forces are facing a shortage of weapons and military equipment, which, according to Bastian Ernst, president of the Reserve Forces Association and member of the Bundestag, is also complicating the training of reservists. In some cases, reservists have to "borrow" equipment from regular units in order to even complete their planned training.
Ernst highlighted this problem in an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt. According to him, this is not a standard way of operating for the German army, but rather a forced solution caused by insufficient supplies of equipment and weapons intended for reserve forces.
"Theft" of equipment, as some critics call it, does not actually mean the theft of military material, according to Ernst. Rather, it involves the transfer or temporary loaning of weapons and other equipment between different units. While reservists gain the opportunity to complete training, regular units may lose part of their equipment.
The problem with expanding reserves
The lack of equipment poses a significant complication for Germany's plans to strengthen the Bundeswehr (German armed forces). In recent years, Berlin has repeatedly emphasized the need to increase the number of soldiers and trained reservists in response to the changing security situation in Europe.
However, according to Ernst, the current pace may not be sufficient. The targets for the number of reservists that Germany has set for 2027 and 2028 will most likely not be achieved without introducing some form of mandatory conscription or call-up.
Germany has been discussing the shape of a new military service for a long time. The debate focuses not only on the number of professional soldiers, but also on creating a sufficiently large and regularly trained reserve force that could be quickly deployed if necessary.
A call for modernization of the Bundeswehr
The problem with supplying reservists also highlights a broader issue regarding Germany's defense capabilities. Simply increasing the number of people registered does not necessarily mean creating a truly combat-ready reserve force. Soldiers need regular training, appropriate weapons, protective gear, ammunition, vehicles, and other logistical support.
Ernst's statements thus point to a contradiction between Germany's political ambitions and the current capabilities of the Bundeswehr. If Berlin wants to significantly increase the number of trained reservists, it will also have to ensure an adequate supply of military equipment.
The debate about German military service is therefore likely to focus not only on how many people the army can recruit, but also on what it will be able to equip them with and how high-quality training it can provide.