German Rearmament: A Historical Analysis for Application in the 21st Century

Abstract

The 2022-2023 war in Ukraine triggered what appeared to be a sharp turn in Germany's commitment to rearmament; however, Germany has faced similar challenges throughout its post-war history. A study of Germany and the Bundeswehr during two critical periods - the years following the end of World War Two and the years following the end of the Cold War - can inform contemporary debates about the role and prominence of the armed forces in the Federal Republic and in NATO. The Bundeswehr is a stable element within Germany's democratic society and remains committed to preventing the repeat of past mistakes through the practice of its ethos - Innere Fuhrung - and its ability to adapt while remaining an army in a democracy. Furthermore, the Bundeswehr also remains an army in alliance, most crucially in NATO. Answers to questions regarding Germany's ability to adapt and commit to NATO are found in its past. This analysis reveals Germany's past success in response to internal and external threats and suggests its ability to apply similar methods in the future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2023
Accession Number
AD1213641

Entities

People

  • Curtis A. Smith

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • East Germany
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Education
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Military Training
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.