The German army is currently facing material deficiencies in many areas, according to Frank Haun, head of the Franco-German defense group KNDS, in an interview published on Saturday with Süddeutsche Zeitung. Haun stated: "NATO maintains its defensive capability because it has a strong partner in the United States. While Europe can only defend itself under certain conditions." The German army once possessed 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks; now, it has only 300. With these, it can protect the city of Augsburg, but certainly not Berlin."
When asked what exactly the German army lacks, he said: "It lacks almost everything. If we look at the war in Ukraine, we will see, first and foremost, that we are lacking artillery." It is noted that many German politicians are expressing the view that the German army stands on inadequate material and logistical ground.
In this regard, Eva Högl, the Bundestag's commissioner for defense, said: "Germany is not quickly modernizing its armed forces. Its material base is now worse than it was before the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, as much weaponry has been sent to Kyiv."
She pointed out that at the end of February, the German parliament voted to allocate 100 billion euros for defense needs: buying equipment, ammunition, new equipment, and developing new systems. She concluded: "Unfortunately, all of this is not happening quickly enough, and Germany needs to purchase 20 billion euros worth of ammunition to fully equip its armed forces, and soldiers are not always provided with the necessary clothing."
