Manpower shortages confront the Bundeswehr
Germany’s armed forces are facing a critical manpower challenge. Official plans call for about 200,000 reservists who can be quickly mobilized in a crisis, yet current numbers show only around 51,000 ready reservists. Analysts estimate that up to 860,000 people could theoretically meet basic eligibility, underscoring a gap between aspirational targets and actual readiness. The Defense Ministry has warned that filling this reserve quickly remains essential for credible deterrence and rapid response capabilities.
What CDU politician Sepp Müller proposes
In discussions reported by Stern, Sepp Müller, the CDU’s top political figure for eastern Germany, floated a controversial idea: former soldiers of the DDR’s National People’s Army (NVA) could be reactivated as Reservists, but only if a rule connected to the reunification treaty were amended. Müller argued that the NVA veterans, who volunteered to defend the country, could help plug the shortfall in a crisis. He also suggested specialized extra training to prepare these veterans for homeland defense roles, noting their prior military service could shorten the path to operational readiness.
According to Müller, the goal would be to create a pathway that recognizes prior service while reinforcing the Bundeswehr’s current standards for readiness. The discussion highlights how the integration of experienced personnel could accelerate the expansion of the reserve, particularly in domestic defense tasks during a period of heightened security concerns.
The legal hurdle: the Einigungsvertrag
The potential shift hinges on the Einigungsvertrag, the treaty that formalized German reunification. Today, ex-NVA members are generally barred from serving as Reservists unless they continued working in the Bundeswehr after 1990. Only about 18,000 of the roughly 170,000 NVA soldiers fell into that exception. A broader change would require regulatory adjustments and a political consensus across parties, illustrating how history, law, and security policy intersect in this debate.
Reactions across the political spectrum
The proposal has drawn varied responses. Proponents say the shortage in the reserve forces makes it sensible to consider all qualified personnel, especially those with military experience. Critics caution that reopening such a policy could reopen difficult historical questions and must be handled with care to avoid unintended consequences for civil-military trust. Dietmar Bartsch of the Left warned that even if many ex-NVA personnel are now over 50, the door should be examined rather than slammed shut, especially given potential roles in homeland defense tasks. Bartsch himself once served in an NVA Fallschirmjäger unit, lending weight to his call for a nuanced assessment rather than a blanket policy shift.
What would change for ex-NVA soldiers?
If the rule changes were implemented, tens of thousands of men aged roughly 50 to 65 could enter a redefined reserve pool. The plan would likely involve expedited retraining that respects their prior service while aligning them with today’s Bundeswehr standards. Training would focus on legal responsibilities, modern doctrine, and the specific demands of homeland defense, with careful screening to ensure readiness without compromising public trust or the memory of a divided past.
Implications for Germany’s security policy
The debate ultimately centers on Germany’s strategic posture and how best to ensure resilience in a changing security environment. A policy shift would signal openness to leveraging all capable resources, including experienced ex-service members, while necessitating a clear framework to manage integration, oversight, and public perception. The discussion will likely continue in parliamentary committees and defense circles, as lawmakers weigh the trade-offs between quick capability gains and the political, historical, and ethical considerations involved.
As the Bundeswehr pursues recruiting and retention reforms, this proposal stands as a provocative, potentially consequential option in Germany’s ongoing effort to strengthen national defense amid demographic and geopolitical pressures.
