The Bundeswehr Command is developing plans to significantly increase the number of reservists due to an analysis of the armed conflict in Ukraine, Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe, deputy inspector general of the Bundeswehr, said.
“You can’t go without a reserve. We see this in Ukraine,” the lieutenant general told the DPA news agency.
The officer confirmed that Germany must “adapt the reserve to current security policy challenges to properly support the Bundeswehr in fulfilling the defence tasks of the country and the alliance.”
According to Andreas Hoppe, the initial task is to build up the reserve to 60,000 men, who will be trained for clear tasks and included in the planning to fulfil them. In addition, the Bundeswehr is currently studying how many total men can be called up “in case of defence”, he said.
“We are assuming that around 800,000 people can be conscripted under wartime laws. In principle, this is everyone who has ever served in the Bundeswehr, retired and suitable for age,” said Andreas Hoppe.
We will remind, earlier German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that the country needs to prepare for war with Russia in the coming years.
