Reflections on the Growing Together of the German Armed Forces
Abstract
The reconciliation of peoples after a long period of conflict is a painful process. Indeed, our experience in the aftermath of the American Civil War was particularly painful for Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. The cold war ended in Europe with the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. This event started an irreversible process of disintegration for the Warsaw Pact which eventually ended in the demise of the Soviet Empire. As the Pact crumbled, the process of rebuilding the economies, political institutions and militaries of its former members began. On October 3, 1990, the two Germanies became one state and the process of political, economic and military unification was begun in earnest. The media have given extensive coverage to the economic difficulties associated with decentralization and the political problems concerning the building of democratic organs, but we have seen little on the process of military unification in the new eastern Laender. When we arrived at Eggesin, the 9th Armored Division was still a well organized major Army formation. The divisional headquarters was operational at least as far as command and control of formations and units were concerned. However, there were considerable personnel problems. Hundreds of military conscripts and young NCOs had left (deserted) the division. Those who were still there displayed a high level of indiscipline that could barely be handled by the leaders who were no longer respected.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA247610
Entities
People
- Hans-peter Von Kirchbach
Organizations
- United States Army War College