Why the German Army is Rebuilding (again)

[@Taskandpurpose]

PDS Debt is offering a free debt analysis. It only takes thirty seconds. Get yours at PDSDebt.com/task23

[@donny6775]

​@V.B.Squire as Voltaire said, "to learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to critique".

[@maryginger4877]

Some how I can not imagine panic in the Kremlin. 12,ooo troops increase over 7 years ... When Russia has 1,500 volunteers per week....

[@rocko7711]

🇩🇪

[@rampaginwalrus]

typo in the title

[@rampaginwalrus]

lmao the only way this ad could be better targeted is if you'd been a Marine instead of a Soldier

[@divinewind6313]

Germany:So you want us to build up a large army, march through Poland and confront Russia. NATO: Yes Germany: Can I have this in writing

[@thewulfus3805]

As German:😂😂😂

[@jonslg240]

Anyone else raise an eyebrow at the fact that Germany is socialist now (just as the third Reich was) which makes them believe that they're "superior because they support humanity"? They've repeated this pattern twice before, which lead to world wars.. So what's going to happen now when they focus on rearmament? More importantly, what's going to happen after they arm themselves significantly yet again? I'm not xyzphobic, my maternal side is mostly German. Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, afterall.. which itself is a historic lesson that's been taught the hard way continually throughout the existence of humanity.

[@xWurstbrot]

@@jonslg240 holy shit dude grab a history book once in a while. there is so much wrong in that comment I dont even know where to start xD

[@TheYeti308]

Highly Accurate . 👍

[@yesyes-om1po]

@@jonslg240 something like the other world wars isn't really possible anymore, also germany is significantly smaller now than it was in the 40s, countries are a lot more interconnected now, especially in the EU.

[@ichbeantrageharz4431]

The big problem was that politicians thought the Bundeswehr was no longer necessary. The position of defense minister was given to incompetent people.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Kohl reduced the defense budget by two thirds in the 1990s.

[@gdrop6623]

I had conversations with friends that believed a strong army is not necessary for small countries like The Netherlands. I believed it was. Netherlands is twice the size of Israel and has twice the population so they could in fact have a decent army. If all of Europe would have a mandatory service it would help. I know it is not great but it is a necessary measure. I now live in Israel so I am not saying this because I want to sound cool. It costs a lot of people when the war is actually happening but you want your population to know how to fight. (Yes, my kids will be soldiers as well. My friends and family are going in and out of rotation. I know what I am talking about when I say it is not great but necessary.)

[@ichbeantrageharz4431]

@@gdrop6623 It is better to have a strong army and not need it than not to have one and need it

[@TheBooban]

It’s not a German thing. All of NATO disarmed for the peace dividend. And Germans follow the Americans. Note they refused to send tanks until the US did. But the US doesn’t acknowledge it’s leadership of the free world anymore.

[@stefthorman8548]

@@gdrop6623 the difference is that Iseral is located in an warzone, Netherlands on the other hand is surrounded by stronger, wealthier allies

[@Khobotov]

Germany: * Looks at Japan* Japan: "This time without Italy?"

[@reinercreekman]

You still lost ww1 against Germany 🇩🇪 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

[@Khobotov]

@@reinercreekman Who's "you"?

[@heavyartillery-qm5hu]

@@Khobotov Russia lost WW1

[@Khobotov]

What does that have to do with a WW2 joke? Japans wasn't in the axis powers during WW1.

[@millennium677]

@@Khobotov ww1 was the prologue to ww2

[@dopepopeurban6129]

A big problem is that the german defence industry is providing equipment for half of the continent. Around 53% of military hardware in all of europe is german, factories, workshops and shipyards are completely clogged up with orders. Its essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place. If it fulfills these orders first, Germany will be criticized for not rebuilding its army quick enough, if it chooses to pause these orders and rebuild its own stocks first, it’ll be criticized for not supporting their allies in times of need. Looking at you, Poland.

[@hanswurst6712]

For example because Germany couldnt deliver more new tanks, the polish have chosen to buy more american Abrahms and Korean K2 tanks. Their first choice would have been the Leopard. But it could not be delivered in an acceptable time frame. So in my opinion its equally important to strenghen the Bundeswehr but also increase germanys military production capabilities for tanks, IFVs, APCs, spare parts and ammunition. Many allies are relying on supplies produced in germany.

[@dfcx1]

First come first serve. Germany's need for a military is to support allies in need to begin with, surely just fulfilling their orders would be the best start.

[@abbottshaull9831]

@@hanswurst6712 Or some new defense industries are needed in NATO.

[@dektarey4024]

@@dfcx1 Thats the public consensus over here. Most want to first work through present orders because, well, contractual obligations. But instead of waiting until these are through, we want to increase national military production capabilities so that its possible to supply both allies and ourself at the same time.

[@RAD1111able]

We don't laugh at Germans maybe except for Leopards because our capabilities are just as weak in many areas. It is true,however,that due to complacency the European arms industry has become a manufacture essentially instead of industrial-scale.

[@SGee882]

As a German I find it funny to read articles every 5 years about how our army is “rebuilding.” You can go back to 2010 and read articles about how we’re now “rebuilding”. I’m not convinced, mainly because being in the military in Germany still just isn’t competitive enough in terms of social status, or in terms or remuneration. With a masters degree your starting salary as an officer in training will be around 30-36K, and you will have to sign a 12 YEAR CONTRACT. Any takers? If Germany modeled itself more after the US in terms of compensation, perks, social status, shorter contracts I think it would have more luck.

[@highdefinist9697]

I am pretty sure at least the social status aspect has drastically changed for the better.

[@SGee882]

@@highdefinist9697 it’s gotten better in the sense that most people seem to realize that the military is necessary on some level since Russia invaded Ukraine but I wouldn’t say drastically. This is of course very subjective person to person but I wouldn’t say being in the German military is really regarded as that glamorous by most of the young people I know. It’s not like we have the military at our football games or in our popular culture. It’s more something regarded as a necessary function but still comfortably tucked away from the popular imagination.

[@yves2932]

@@SGee882 Nobody doubts sewage workers and garbage cleaners are neccessary, too. Doesnt mean it got them any level of prestige.

[@sp7873]

also german here. compared to 2010 the situation has fundamentally changed - back then everybody spoke about a big army not being needed anymore because we were surrounded by friends. now i hope politicians have recognized that this is not the case and furthermore that situations can change very rapidly so that keeping your army in good shape and capabilities ist always a sensible approach to safety.

[@lyvekis8824]

Yup, German military is completely inept at many things. I am a physicist and I gave them a try twice. Got denied twice for really dumb reasons that were on their side not mine. They also don't wanna pay me like the rest. Pardon me? They can be lucky if anyone wants to join those morons. Under the last ministers corruption has spread like wildfire. More incompetent people were hired because of nepotism. Millions and millions of euros disappeared into nothingness. They would need to exchange most people but because of laws they cannot. The free market is laughing about the people at the military and how dumb they are.

[@philkoth2198]

Served with German Soldiers in Kosovo. Good Soldiers, hard working. I remember getting a care package from some Soldier caring group back home that sent us some Black Rifle coffee and other goodies. They were bewildered, the company commander even saying "we don't have anything like that back home". The biggest problem they had (back in 2012 at least) was that so many German civilians were afraid of them and were so afraid of becoming the "fourth reich" that they were looked down on. The commander of NATO forces there, the "COMKFOR" was a German 2-star General, an old tanker. Good dude, from northern Germany somewhere. I got to drive a Fuchs ("Fox" 6-wheel APC) out of that deployment. Thing drove like a Mercedes, lol. We drank and had a lot of good times. I miss those guys and hope they are all doing well. (and yes I am aware that General Order 1B was in effect, but I was on a remote base 1.5 hours from the nearest American so what happened on that camp, stayed on that camp 😉) There is a German 1SG that still has my American DVD of "Full Metal Jacket" that I would like back, btw! 😂

[@brushrunner]

I read the comments always for. Stuff like this

[@OmegaAlphaDu]

Funny because I thought they were useless and dog shit in Afghanistan.

[@Sebidkk]

Storys from Prizren ;)

[@tartrazine5]

It's wild how much the Germans have been taught to hate themselves.

[@philkoth2198]

@@Sebidkk I had to see a doctor on the German base in Prizren. Beautiful place. The nurse was so pretty, I blushed when they said I had to take off my pants (to examine my knee). XD

[@LukasVos]

The sentence "surrounded by allies" was often used in Germany as "von Freunden umzingelt", what even is more drastic, because "umzingeln" tends to be used even more in military vocabulary, and isn't that neutral as "surrounded". It's like "Encircled by friends"

[@highdefinist9697]

That's really more of an Austrian motto. I believe that Germany has been more responsible than that for quite a while.

[@FAL87]

@@highdefinist9697 thats right. germans dont think any agressive push from its borders would be possible. simplay because we are friends with everyone. We dont see it sceptical as the poster above is suggesting.

[@markusbalbach7608]

surrounded heißt übrigens "umgeben/umringt" und so ging auch der Spruch, umGEBEN von FREUNDEN...nicht UMZINGELT lol---

'von Freunden umgeben' would be a perfectly neutral way to say this in German.

[@Saleemsan]

See, that's what I mean. German is a hard language. Not as hard as russian though, and my oldest speaks russian and is in ROTC

[@-MarcelDavis-]

Germanys recent (last 2 months) shopping list expansion (in addition to ongoing precurement): - 105 Leopard 2A8 - 20 Eurofighter - 123 Boxer IFV - 1,511 logistics vehicles (trucks) - 19 Skyranger (shorad) - increased it's order of F126 frigates from 4 to 6 - (plans to) increase it's order of F35 fighters from 35 to 43 - increased it's order of patriot systems from 4 to 8 - artillery shells for 8,5 billion € They are also looking into buying 148 more boxer IFV's and up to 168 Boxer artillery systems that's all ... I think-

[@themarlboromandalorian]

That's great. What did they order for commo?

[@bedtimegaming0313]

Poland: aw shit here we go again

[@weblio4861]

@@bedtimegaming0313No. We are arming ourselves to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Polish friends in the event of an alliance ;-) In addition, the Poles are arming more heavily: 500 HIMARS missile launchers 1000 K2 main battle tanks 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers 288 K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers 48 FA-50 fighter jets

[@RAD1111able]

​@@weblio4861Our intial orders are insane but I highly doubt we will buy all the 500 HIMARS etc.

[@uniformmike05]

Germany will also buy Arrow 3 SAM systems from Israel.

[@GenXerReacts]

The West Germans didn't have to "look" across the Berlin Wall to see hardships in East Germany. My Aunt was born and raised in Berlin. Her cousins lived in East Germany and my aunt Hilda found herself near Munich at the end of WW2 (she spent time in the Dachau concentration camp and later escaped and hid out on a farm until the end of the war). Later she married my uncle Calvin who was stationed in West Germany in the US Army during the Cold War. Every so often my aunt would fly to West Germany and take the train to East Germany. Often, she was required to bribe the border guards to be let into East Germany. Since exchanging money was technically illegal, she would often use items not commonly found in East Germany to bribe the guards. The most common items she used were American cigarettes and bananas were another popular item she would bring over along with toilet paper.

[@chrisstrawn4108]

"Toilet paper." The pop-conservative writer P.J. O'Rouke wrote that it took Communism to make Germany broke. My observation is the closer in proximity one gets to being forced back into some kind of Warsaw Pact the more strongly the opposition to Russia. Germany's been able to play the middle for 30 years now but that time is at an end. And not just with Nord Stream. Germany is confronting China trying to run it out of car manufacturing. All of this because of the invasion of Ukraine, which will be the significant strategic event of our Gen X children's lifetimes.

[@The-Droll-and-LazyJoker]

In 1981 I watch a made for TV movie with my mother, about Masada, whereas my mother said, "look how brave those people are, they can get up at a moments notice, then out the door, if it was us, the first thing we would have to grab is the... toilet-paper" Cheers!

[@amerigo88]

I was stationed in West Germany just before the West/East Germany reunification in 1990. Traveled into E. Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Poland and the toilet paper in those Warsaw Pact nations was terrible! The old joke was to call John Wayne Toilet Paper - "It's rough and it's tough and it doesn't take any crap off of anybody." Likewise, the towels of my Prague hotel room in 1990 were pure polyester and didn't really absorb water. The wise Western traveler learned to bring their own soap, shampoo, towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, and so on. The Communist garbage was worse than stuff from a Dollar Tree store in 2024. Much worse.

[@The-Droll-and-LazyJoker]

@@amerigo88 I understand, and say, thank you for your... service!

[@brushrunner]

@@amerigo88LOL!

[@borgir8388]

Luckily at the end of WW2, us Germans have managed to hide one single villager - took a while but now we are just rebuilding everything.

[@RabbitxRabbit]

😂😂😂 snap

[@cadenludwig5121]

AOE reference ?

[@manuelhengel431]

What Weirdo? Was hast nen Sockenschuss?

[@dallassukerkin6878]

:chuckles: Stealthy and ingenious :)

[@v13r3r]

Oh yea? WOLOLO

[@sabermachine3296]

21:31 “Everything has an end, only the sausage has two” 😂😂

[@chartreux1532]

Thanks for putting that Song back in my Head "Alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat ZWEI!" haha But seriousky, as a German Veteran (Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23) with 2 Tours in Afghanistan and 1 in Kosovo i'm happy to see him do a Video on this Topic. There is a ton of Misinformation out there about the German Military so it's good to see a Video putting Things clear, at least most Stuff! Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@DanasSutra-t8v]

​@@chartreux1532Kosovo?!

[@wb00]

Yes my darling, it’s over!

[@chartreux1532]

@@DanasSutra-t8v via KFOR

[@josef1391]

​@@DanasSutra-t8vKFOR?

[@thomasmaier9109]

As a german, i have to say, you did a great job to summarize the problems . Good research

[@fritjofrocker5047]

your first try on "zeitenwende" was half decent, but it went straight south from there :)

[@kurt-o0o]

The more I hear him say it the more convinced that I am dyslexic (and blind) and the word may actually be spelled Seißenwendah

[@highdefinist9697]

The "Bundeswehr" which become more "-wahr" over time was also notable ^^

[@miriamweller812]

@@highdefinist9697 Boondasswear

[@felixhammerl2700]

Sigh-Dan-Wayne-Day

[@paddington1670]

@@felixhammerl2700 too difficult, take it back to the drawing board.

[@EdmundLoh]

“Third time is the charm…” 🗿

[@highdefinist9697]

Yes - but this time, Germany is on the right side, helping the rest of the world fight against fascism.

[@CharliMorganMusic]

God damnit. -_-

[@historyandpoliticsexplaine4876]

History happens in prequels and sequels not trilogies.

[@eagleone5456]

I would love to see a strong, conservative Germany.

[@trebor0702]

🍷🗿

[@chartreux1532]

As a German Veteran (Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23) with 2 Tours in Afghanistan and 1 in Kosovo i'm happy to see you do a Video on this Topic. There is a ton of Misinformation out there about the German Military so it's good to see a Video putting Things clear, at least most Stuff! Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@hfdcjiirjmcfi]

Ich will nach Berchtesgaden 😅

[@ILereo]

Dank euch konnte unser Burger King, am Bahnhof, endlich renoviert werden. Haha. Bin nur neidisch auf eure 10% Rabatt Marschverpflegung dort.

[@ILereo]

@@hfdcjiirjmcfi Tbh, immer wieder schön zu hören.

[@Raphael-wy8yh]

@@hfdcjiirjmcfida gibt’s außer Schönramer eh nix da gehst zum Sterben hin sonst nix

[@Mrree250]

Das poopenfarten?

[@smti1985]

I am German and I know the irony in my country: We produce good weapons, but our military is very badly equipped and no one wants to join the military here. But that has to do with politics, as both national pride and military has a bad reputation because of history in Germany.

[@exploreroftheworld4014]

SUCK IT UP - NOW GET GOING...

[@johnjingleheimersmith9259]

@@exploreroftheworld4014 what an intelligent comment

[@GoSkate75]

we are also very strong in other tasks except of war

[@axelgerdes]

ja...genau. traurig aber wahr !

[@daddystu7046]

@@GoSkate75 Your industry is on its knees since you let the US blow up your cheap gas supply.

[@spazotron1374]

Incredibly impressive how quickly y’all got this video out after the other one was restricted by KZbin. The spare parts army appreciates you

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

So why is KZbin soft on the Russians?

[@kilmer009]

Wait what did i miss? What was in that vid?

[@warcrimeconnoisseur5238]

​@@thomaskalbfus2005They are not "soft on the Russians" they are very jumpy when it comes to certain words and topics

[@godskull5788]

I love how my guy pronounced “Bundeswehr” different each time he said it. So good!

[@Bigsky1991]

Einfach schrecklich!

[@chrisstrawn4108]

Eh, he's from New Jersey forgettaboutit!

[@nekoJens]

@@chrisstrawn4108hey! I‘m wehring here!

[@kylorekt8900]

same with the word "zeitenwende"

[@soppingclam]

His bloodline is ragu

[@timolynch149]

"Who rests, rusts" (wer rastet der rostet) is just the inverse of "a rolling stone gathers no moss". There is this ongoing talk about the percentage of GDP Germany spends on defence but here is the thing: Germany still spent 66.8 billion in 2023 compared to, say, France's 61.3 billion. While I for one, and I am German, am glad that defence spending will be increased it is not just a matter of how much is spent but also HOW it spent. Germany has no nuclear arsenal, no aircraft carrier or anything bigger than a frigate and a relatively small number of personnel. Germany has very few bases outside of Germany. These are things that contribute massively to the US defence budget. The Bundeswehr SHOULD be in far, far better shape but money has been wasted hand over fist for decades.

[@elektrotehnik94]

Yes. YT channel Perun has touched on this topic & the waste is pretty mind-blowingly bizzare ; worth checking out 🏆

[@thodan467]

and France has not reduced it s military spending so drastically nor spend much of it in Afghanistan

[@777Brooklynbeast777]

A SHAME

[@MTTT1234]

What surprised me the most of how much Germany was able to cut down red tape to install a floating gas-processing facility to allow the import of LNG. Read somewhere that under normal circumstances it would have taken like up to 8 years. After the war started, this was cut down to 6 months. 6 months to write the laws, implement it and connect the new facility to the existing gas network. That is quite an achievement.

[@RandomGuy9]

Shows what is possible if the polical will is there.

[@Mr.SnakySnake]

“The boys are back in town”

[@eagleone5456]

Is that a reference to the Polish reenactment video? Lmao that vid is hilarious

[@highdefinist9697]

It's great to see that Germany is moving beyond its pacifism, and that the rest of the free world welcomes a more responsible Germany.

[@genem895]

You mean- Nazis 😂

[@mr.hedado741]

Nah, they completed the focus “fan Prussian Militarism”

[@Cybersawz]

You mean "in" town.

[@billyccall5774]

Germany, Italy and Japan are increasing military capabilities.... "Oh no" But they're on our side this time. "Oh thank god"

[@Mr.SnakySnake]

Italy was always a wild card

[@Nicoplia]

For now

[@Ashy_Slashy3]

Lol

[@nolongerblocked6210]

My thoughts exactly

[@duichersie1]

Italy is currently ruled by the far-right party “brothers of italy”with clear connections to Italys fascim, and the even-further-right “Alternative for Germany” just got second most votes in the EU elections in Germany, despite a core personnel and many supporters with straight up nazi ideology. Politics are wild in Europe at the moment.

[@mchenryneko]

In the middle of the 80s, when I did my military service, the statement was: The (only) task of the Bundeswehr is to delay the Warsaw Pact for three days, so that the USA, GB and France can set up a proper defense on the Rhine. So much for the quality of the Bundeswehr in the 80s ....

[@godwrote01]

Volker Pispers: Die Bundeswehr ist dazu da den Feind so lange aufzuhalten bis Militär kommt. Man muss ja sagen in den 80ern war dier Bundeswehr ja noch TOP equiped. Ich hab 2002 meinen Dienst verrichtet. Da war nix mehr da .......... ich war 2 Jahre lang Grenni, in den zwei Jahren hab ich NICHTS gelernt. Heute schau ich mir ein 10 MIn Ukraine Kampfvideo an und weiß mehr über Krieg als ich in meiner Bundeswehrzeit je gelernt habe. Heutzutage könnte selbst die DDR die Bundeswehr von heute in Tagen überrennen.

[@Taskandpurpose]

its interesting the leadership across NATO still talks about the same aspect, they plan to do a retrograde movement back at the start of any conflict

[@thjones2]

Father served in the Fulda Gap area in the early 70s (US Army artillery commander). His instructions were basically "survive long enough to lob your nukes" (back when 8" guns were NBC-capable), but, they were otherwise expected to amount to little more than speed bumps.

[@etaylor495]

Credit where its due, a lot of the OR research and analysis I've read of the CW Bundeswehr give it a lot of praise for its abilities and professionalism. I'd strongly advise the book Battlegroup by Jim Storr on the subject.

[@fastescocky]

A few years ago, a former general of the Bundeswehr stated the hard facts. The army of the GDR was organized, trained, and equipped as an offensive army. The Bundeswehr knew that the GDR army alone could completely overrun them within a few days.

[@geronimo8159]

as a German, I'm really impressed by how you managed to get through all this

[@tooitchy]

without a single roman salute no less!

[@KaeyaAlBarik]

"Remember who you are" -Mufasa, The Lion King

[@quadrasaurus-rex8809]

This is way funnier than the likes demonstrate 😂

[@AC-hj9tv]

-Martin Luther King

[@quadrasaurus-rex8809]

@@AC-hj9tv *Michael Luther King

[@AC-hj9tv]

@@quadrasaurus-rex8809 Michel Luthier King

[@quadrasaurus-rex8809]

@@AC-hj9tv guitar you talking about?

[@TheBreadlord]

Regarding the issue of public support - I have a lot of left leaning German friends in their thirties and below who have changed their mind on Germany's pacifist stance, in contrast to those older. I think what's happening is that the older generations believe that war in Europe is impossible, as it's a solved problem where the younger people never saw that "fix" when it happened and feel the elders are being naive.

[@Alexvondark]

War is inevitable

[@knoll9812]

Another own goal by Putin. Germany on Pacifist track. Now nudged into fighting path. He has awakened Europe so no more suprise attacks

[@lisaruhm6681]

But there is also the rise of the people influenced by Russian propaganda, who see anything involving the military as declaration of war to Russia.

[@jacksprat9172]

Von Der Leyen had a history of failure in every post she occupied in the German Government but she was Merkel's pet protege. She became the German Defense Minister in 2013 to 2019 and spent millions on over priced equipment that never materialised and the various consultancy firms got paid further millions for their procurement 'contracts'. In other words she completely wrecked what was left of the German Military power to the point where the army don't even have working rifles, before resigning and becoming head of the EU. Now she wants a European army which she will also disarm. Her medical doctorate, received in 1991 was found to be plagiarised to the tune of about half the actual content in 2015. At best, she is inept and utterly incapable of running anything. At worst its hard to tell if she is a marxist working for the WEF or the CCP. Most of this comment is taken from The SPECTATOR 27TH March 2021 'Failing Upwards: The Story Of Ursula Von Der Leyen'. If I was German, I would be paying attention to the views of those raised in East Germany who actually know what they are talking about. As do the people in Poland and we can all see how they are acting..........do likewise! That goes for the rest of Europe as well.

[@Grimshak81]

The elders ARE naive.

[@miersdelika5016]

The West: Germany, stop having an army! Germany: Ok. The West: Germany, why don't you have an army? Germany: FUFUFUFUUFUFUFUFU

[@Melior_Traiano]

I read this all the time. The West wanted Germany to rearm pretty quickly after WWII had ended since they realised the need for West German manpower in the face of the Soviet threat. Just look at the massive size of the West German military during the height of the Cold War to see how incorrect your comment is.

[@FreeTicketsX]

Isso

[@rcgunner7086]

I think the "Germany, stop having an army" idea died out in 1955. Since then its been, "Germany, where the F is your Heer?????" Posted by a GI who was to fight and die in the Fulda Gap

[@texasnutmegger3296]

Merkel's achievement - denuding the Bundeswehr and banning the song Panzerlied. When I was stationed in Germany and we established a Partnership with a German artillery battalion, my German counterpart said to me at the ceremony that he envied the American army. I asked him why and he said to me, "You have a history. You can celebrate your achievement of the past. We don't have any history before 1955." I detected some sadness in that remark.

[@slavicbeats9998]

How is it Merkel's fault that Hitler invaded Poland and started World War II which directly resulted in the state of German Military back then? They don't have any history before that because that "history before" has been tainted by fascists and war criminals.

[@arrjay2410]

Again, good Journalism here. You took a technically complex document full of jargon and turned it into something easily understood by most people regardless of their aptitudes. Well done, keep up the good work. Thumbs Up 👍from me.

[@pzgreni282]

I've enjoyed many of your videos, but this one takes the cake. You clearly explained why the Bundeswehr has to play catchup now after several decades of neglect by the politicians. As a German who did his 15 months of military service in 1983/84 as a Panzergrenadier (mechanized infantry), I have been frustrated for years by this. Then "West Germany" with 60 million inhabitants was clearly able to afford a fully equipped 500K military without making anyone suffer. The "paradox" of why a large majority of Germans support increasing the size of the Bundeswehr while rejecting Germany assuming a leadership role in military affairs is easily explained: We want Germany to again be able to defend itself, while clearly anchored in NATO as a major contributor to the alliance. Germany has no overseas territories (unlike France and the UK) or old obligations or interests in former colonies, so the defense of Germany and its neighbors and allies is the main task. This is best achieved in agreement with the alliance partners, first and foremost the United States. The peace, freedom, and prosperity postwar Germany enjoyed until now is the best proof that this policy is working. A final comment on why Germany did not send troops to the first Gulf War in 1991: It literally would have been illegal, since the constitution (Grundgesetz) clearly forbade any military involvement outside the defense of Germany or a NATO ally. That was changed in later years to allow missions like Kosovo and Afghanistan. The Grundgesetz was proofread and signed off on by the United States before the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949. I remember there were a lot of people upset back then because the German government and the Bundeswehr massively helped the US Military anyway with logistical support in Germany during the first Gulf War, and that there were German officers working in NATO AWACS planes over the Gulf.

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

*you forget a critical point why germany was able to finance and support such a massive army until 1991. Taxes. Under Kohl in the early 90´s, ALOT of taxes were cut back or even voided. Top Tax rates for Income and Turnover were cut from 53% to 42% while the tax bracket threshholds were lowered, resulting in higher taxes for lower incomes. Wealth Tax and a few other taxes were completely abolished. We are talking about MASSIVE tax cuts for the rich. The 1989 federal tax revenue was inflation adjusted up to 15% higher than the 2024 federal tax revenue when seen in Proportion to the GDP, meaning the german State could fund and finance a very large military with ease and have still billions to spare for infrastructure and required investments, unlike today, where the federal budget gets strangeld by the Schuldenbremse (debt brake) and the tax cuts of the 90´s under the CDU/FDP.

[@Rabascan]

@@zhufortheimpaler4041 That, plus conscription. Nowadays, Germany has some of the lowest tax rates for top earners and super rich in all of Europe, which makes financing incredibly difficult, especially in combination with the debt brake - and it's hard to get new recruits for an army with a poor public image due to being underfunded and underequipped.

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

@@Rabascan conscription is quite worthless for a modern day miilitary, unless you want to fight a war like russia does. (meaning sacrificing 500k men for next to nothing)

[@Rabascan]

@@zhufortheimpaler4041 I disagree. First, you get a larger part of the population exposed to the military. Many career soldiers in Germany of the last decades joined because they were conscripted and took a liking to the job. Second, you can hand over less important tasks to conscripts - non-frontline-duties - to open up the professional soldiers for more important tasks. Third, you build up a reserve of people with basic military skills, which can be drafted and trained to make up for the inevitable losses during actual war.

[@bhess1212]

Great info

[@monarchist1838]

The British Army was supposed to be out of Germany by 2020. I'm a reservist; I was there in 2019 and recalled seeing tanks, armoured vehicles, and regulars withdrawn back to the UK. I returned last year before deploying overseas. I saw more challenger tanks and personnel taking up residence. Not just us, but plenty of American, Estonian, and Slovak troops around, too. I asked some of the locals, and they said their military is far too small, and with the threat of a resurgent Russia, they appreciated allied countries maintaining a presence. A little ironic when the British Armed Forces are at their smallest levels since the end of the Napoleonic wars. Our regular colleagues are under more pressure and are having to rely on us more often.

[@ludwigneigl891]

all european countries have to step up now. I expected a lot more from the UK since its the only european country that guaranteed ukrainian sovereignity. 100 years earlier the UK declared war on Germany for a similar guaranty for Belgium. :p

[@dogsbecute]

to be fair, britain has it good. its defacto the hardest place in europe to invade, and even if anyone got close, they have an entire continent of allies to deal with first. To be honest, theyre probably fine with a 200k strong force, if it were defensive only. Unfortunately, like you said, britain is taking on an increasingly more responsible role in NATO. Their role wasnt to invest in the army, but to invest in the aerospace realms, and technology sectors. Now that russia has shown its true face, britain is in the unique position of being able to send its small army to the main land while still being relatively super safe. To be honest, if britain steps up now, that 200k force can sit its butt in europe and they can raise a further 300k at home. Here in the USA we have a million man military, but not a lot of people know, we have over half stationed in the US at all times. Theres hundreds of thousands of us at the ready when europe needs it, but europeans should certainly use this time to take advantage of that fact and start raising bigger armies simply to deter russia. It will be too late if they start doing that when the USA is already on the front. It needs to happen before that.

@@ludwigneigl891 > I expected a lot more from the UK since its the only european country that guaranteed ukrainian sovereignity. The Russians also guaranteed Ukrainian sovereignty. Well, were supposed to according to the treaty.

[@menwithven8114]

The British still have an army? Im sorry but you all will be SEVERELY embarrassed if any real war goes off in Europe. What are the statistics right now? GB cant even actively use the navy theyre so sjort manned.

[@1_Fish.2_Fish.Red_Fish.]

Trump tried to tell y’all.

[@davidduhme7780]

As a German, I'm extremely happy about this development. Finally Germany realizes that our naive pacifist view was foolish. I never understood this mentality tbh. *Especially* because of German history we have a moral and practical responsibility to stand up against evil and tyranny and defeat it. This can only be achieved through strength, not weakness and nice talks. Germany should absolutely be the most powerful military force in Europe.

[@mrwheeljack7274]

Sehe ich eins zu eins genauso. Diese pazifistische Haltung von Deutschland seit ein paar Jahrzehnten und die dazugehörige Vernachlässigung der Bundeswehr regen mich so extrem auf. Bin ehrlich froh dass so ganz langsam und allmählich selbst der letzte Politiker begreift, dass eine schwache BW nix bringt.

[@mrwheeljack7274]

Und am meisten schmerzt es mich, zu sehen, wie viel Potenzial bei der BW vergeudet wurde und immer noch wird. Die Technik (d.h. viele Fahrzeuge, Waffensysteme und Ausrüstungsgegenstände) ist oftmals echt 1A und im internationalen Vergleich auch relativ weit vorne dabei, also sehr fortschrittlich. Nur funktioniert sie leider selten bis gar nicht, weil Ersatzteile fehlen oder bei der Produktion gespart wurde. Dasselbe gilt auch für so manche organisatorischen Sachen oder was die Ausbildung dort betrifft

[@philipliethen519]

As an American I agree with what you say -& want our countries to always be allied in mutual defense.

[@beauxtalks]

Germans are a gelded nation who have been taught to despise themselves and have been a vassal state to the US since the end of the 2nd World War. Even if you rearm a slave army will never be victorious and your immigrant replacements won’t die for you because you don’t respect yourselves.

[@wiseass2149]

Hitler had a lot to do with that. Now with the AFD rising. I still do not trust Germany.

[@tabletopmika4349]

In the Bundeswehr there was already a shortage of ammunition and spare parts back in the late 80s and 90s. During my one year of military service in the 90s, I fired less than 100 rounds during the 3 months of basic training and none afterwards. And because there wasn't enough money for training-hand grenades we pretended to pull the ring from dummy grenades before throwing them. During a 5 day exercise everybody got 20 blanks, the MG gunner got 200, which he spent with the first few bursts. It was so bad that during my first time of guard duty I didn't get any ammunition at all. One of the major problems of the Bundeswehr is that because of WW2 soldiers are not well respected in modern Germany. Therefore it is hard to get the necessary funds. And during the time of von der Leyen's time as minister of defense, lots of the funds went into the pockets of external advisors. Another mistake was reducing the duration of the compulsory military service first from 18 to 12 and later to 6 months, and then completely suspending it.

[@georgewilkie3580]

Thank You for your very informative, and valuable input. And, Thank You for Your service

[@chrisiooo]

My dad had his mandatory service right when the wall came down. 2 G3 magazines and one 50 round MG3 belt over the entire year

[@fluffypancakes7626]

Man that's rough. I fired 90 rounds in 10 minutes a couple weeks ago for fun during our annual repetition course in the Swiss army. I think the Soldats (privates) had to waste 10,000 rounds last week because we had requisitioned too much for their training. We thought we'd be training around 50 privates, but only 30 could show up for the exercise.

[@ラーメンのボス]

@@fluffypancakes7626 Congress on your victory today man well done

[@thefriendlyapostate8290]

@@fluffypancakes7626 This hardly compares. ;-) You probably know well that up to 2007 the Swiss army gave their reservists a sealed box of live ammo home. Imagine a country in which every man not only has the right to bear arms but has to be armed - what this implies in terms of civic virtue, cohesion and decency - in Germany there would be full auto fire all day.

[@godwrote01]

very good summarize of the Bundeswehr Situation. Hit the spot. greetings from an Panzergrenadier on Marder in the 2000ies

[@Bigsky1991]

"Er ist kein Mensch, er ist kein Tier, er ist ein......"😅

[@georgewilkie3580]

Thank You for your service.

[@josef1391]

"Dran drauf drüber"

[@godwrote01]

@@Bigsky1991 er ist ein Panzergrenadier - und es gab auch - Trete nicht auf jeden Stein - denn es könnt ein Grennie sein

[@godwrote01]

@@georgewilkie3580 very appreciated - i was in the Unit that serves now also in Lithuania -so called Nato Quick Response Force - i had assignment in Yugoslavia short after the war

[@brandonhultgren5776]

Perun’s video on German defense economics would be a great follow on to anyone interested in this video.

[@tdb7992]

I feel like it 'highly inspired' this video

[@highdefinist9697]

It's interesting how outdated Peruns video has become in some aspects, because so much has changed just last year.

[@wedgeantilles8575]

Perun's videos are a great follow up to any video you watch^^

[@markuser-punkt6222]

And Perun effortlessly can pronounce "Bundesamt ffür Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung" :D

[@thomasc9370]

Here's a joke my dad told me from his days in the Australian army (1990s so end of cold war and lower spending). On a training exercise a section (10 men) are sent out and told to look for the enemy, "but we can't afford blanks so every time you see an enemy put your thumb up and fingers out like a pistol and yell "bangity bang bang." Waiting in ambush the men see 4 enemy soldiers wandering across a bridge in the open without a care in the world. The soldiers jump up and yell "BANGITY BANG BANG" but the enemy just keep sauntering along. Again "BANGITY BANG BANG!" But the four enemies just ignore them. Pissed off the section leader stands up and storms over to the four guys and the bridge and yells "what are you doing?! We just got you!" To which the leader one of the other four soldiers starts winding his hands around, their leader slowly turns to face the section leader... "Tankity tank tank tank"

[@R0bobb1e]

As always, awesome episode! You've come so far since I first started watching you! Those phonics deep dives obviously paid off! ;P Anyway, keep it up. You're my go to guy for this side of things.

[@MichaelMichaelides]

👋👍

[@Thought_Criminality]

I can already hear a song about fluttering bees and beautiful white flowers.

[@lucemiserlohn]

*Ein Lied!* Auf der Heide blüht ein weißes Blümelein...

[@charliefoxtrott1048]

...und das heisst:

[@AceofAllAcesJames5558]

ERIKA!

[@StefanHoffmann84]

@@AceofAllAcesJames5558 BUM BUM, BUM BUM

[@jamesbussey2911]

Ich habe kein problem mit das, kameraden. 👍

[@marioytb1]

Once a Phonics addict, always a Phonics addict. Stay strong Cappy

[@ralfklonowski3740]

German here I am 59 yo and served in the (West)German Bundeswehr in the mid/late 80s as a conscript. I never lost my interest for defense matters. At first let me compliment you for this very thorough, in depth and well peresented video. It can hold its own against the best German analysis I've seen so far. Many commenters below have already mentioned the lack of efficiency regarding the use of our defense budget. One look towards France illustrates that very well: The French spend less than we do, but outcompete us in almost every military category. Complaining about incompetent Secretaries of Defense, while partly true, misses the important point: The guidelines of German gouvernment policy are set by the Bundeskanzler, and him/her alone. Angela Merkel was not interested in defense, so there wasn't much Ursula von der Leyen or Annegret Kamp-Karrenbauer could really do. Especially the can "Tornado-Replacement" was kicked down the road until the time window for a good solution had all but closed. Olaf Scholz, the current chancellor, has grasped the changing situation (hence the "Zeitenwende" speech), but to cope with it he has to do things that are completely against his political DNA. And it shows. Bold statements are followed up by somwhat half hearted actions. When Olaf Scholz announced the special military equipment fund, everybody thought this would be ON TOP of the defense budget, now raised to 2% GDP. Sadly, this is not the case, the fund is partly used to reach the 2%. So good equipment is ordered in insufficient numbers due to the regular budget still beeing too low. Thank god we have a very capable Secretary of Defense now (Boris Pistorius), but he is of course bound to the guidelines and decisions set by Olaf Scholz. I desperately hope I am wrong, but to me the current situation feels like 1938 from the french perspective. The global situation is deteriorating and a new major war is on its way. You can already see the future coalitions emerging. Germany will either be prepared or crushed

[@patrickbo2045]

Your appreciation for the countries and cultures you speak about is something I really like. Keep the good work up!

[@robosv634]

ngl having the Warsaw Pact on our side now is pretty awesome. I haven't watched your Poland videos yet but this one has been fabulous!

[@Finny869]

Hey brother, I love the way you violently throw those quotes from things semi-related to the subject matter. Now just end the show with a random thought/quote you enjoy. One of my favorite ones. “I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.” ― John Quincy Adams

[@ashardalondragnipurake]

and the poet ensures his son needs to be a warrior

[@jonathankrivec9907]

Pretty sure that was just John Adams

[@Grimshak81]

@@ashardalondragnipurakeyeah because of that “soft men make hard times” Nonsens? If that’s true… why is living in Germany still better than in most other countries and why isn’t Kongo the best country in the world by now? Always these easy-to-debunk-by-basic-logic one phrasers…

[@ashardalondragnipurake]

@@Grimshak81 why did rome collapse you wouldnt accept why kongo is a sht place always this eagerness to cling to your blindfold

[@krisvalenti4141]

@@ashardalondragnipurake Not because it lacked a strong military. Mainly because of the 3 kingdoms, it collapsed under its own weight. Please use question marks if you are asking questions.

[@agermangineer]

This is good work. Thank you! 12:45 well demonstrated! 😂

[@slomo3937]

Excellent! As a German, I haven’t heard a better compilation of facts and intelligent analysis of the situation on this topic yet. Well done, „average infantryman“!

[@henninghesse9910]

Wow, that’s a well researched piece of journalism you put up here. Well done!

[@embreis2257]

you are too generous 😉

[@webcrawler9782]

In 2011, conscription was suspended. Now there are discussions about reintroducing it.

[@gregoryaparker]

There's no discussion. It was reinstated on Wednesday with some conditions.

[@stefthorman8548]

@@gregoryaparker lmao, isn't it ironic that an "pacifist" country needs conscription, when an more war incline nation like the USA doesn't? maybe Germany should first have people who want to fight for their own country instead of forcing them to join the military like slave masters. decades of being an socialist state, and barely anyone likes the country enough to avoid reinstating conscription

[@ichbeantrageharz4431]

@@gregoryaparker Was laberst du, es wurde grade mal ein Plan zur wieder Einführung vorgestellt

[@walther2492]

@@stefthorman8548 Are you a troll or just dumb af?

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

The English pm is talking about it

[@arnearninson]

Love your content, btw you slaugthered the word "Zeitenwende" :D greetings from germany

[@ulrichmachtle4864]

spc thx 4 that, I was in this army 30 years ago, and it was a nightmare back then, short of everything, bureaucracy to death and into oblivion - unbelievable.

[@Grimshak81]

30 years ago you barely were in any serious mission under live threatening conditions. There’s nothing worse than old guys from the exercise army back then telling young veterans who were in really dangerous missions “how much harder it was back then”.

[@donny6775]

Whoo! The boys are back in town!

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

They should have never left town. Good to be back.

[@Pinkpanther100x]

Serious hell is coming swastikas no thank you

[@luvox1089]

Love your videos big dawg

[@endlesswaffles6504]

Poland: "Hey, I've seen this one before."

[@felixknorpp2803]

Dieser Kommentarbereich ist nun eingentum der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 🇩🇪

[@highdefinist9697]

Bayern ist aber besser.

[@Essey209]

@danLTa1 i am sorry for you

[@quietschbaer]

@@highdefinist9697 Träum weiter. Bayern haben wir seit 1871 im Sack.

[@arx3516]

​@@highdefinist9697 Bavaria is going to be annexed by Austria.

[@highdefinist9697]

@@arx3516 Austria is not even NATO, what can they possibly do?

[@scotthazelton519]

Thanks for sharing Cappy

[@stratokrat6290]

Great job making this video! I really love all the proverbs fitting the context.

[@TheSebMaier]

As a typically non-proud German, I'd like to thank you for calling it "historical" pacifism. Pacifism, curiosity, and the idea of a brotherhood of Europe is what I grew up with, but obviously there is a much darker side to be found to German history and you do not have to look far. So calling German pacifism "historic" feels exactly right and it feels like a compliment at the same time. Also, I would like to commend you on your pronunciation of the word "Zeitenwende"! Especially the "Z" isn't easy and I think you have earned it to say it as often as you wish ;)

[@iche9373]

Are you from the German language police? Gosh, you guys should be more relaxed if it’s about the pronunciation.

[@TJansonable]

​@@iche9373 he complimented him? calm down

[@LaTierraNueva19]

Y’all should really work on your demographics!! Your being replaced and out bred by migrants, worried for y’all!

[@gunslinger0963]

​@@iche9373 kopp zu

[@iche9373]

@@gunslinger0963 no u

[@nolongerblocked6210]

The benefit of being an American & your country being in some kind of war constantly since WW2, is I never worry about our government not spending enough on the military or equipment/kit shortages

[@highdefinist9697]

I feel like that's one of the greatest shortcomings of American culture - the over-reliance on military strength, while neglecting the importance of having an effective government. The best military in the world is useless if the political system governing it is so fragile, that it can be rendered ineffective, as a consequence of state-sponsored troll-armies riling up both parties to gridlock each other.

[@alphaomega938]

The social and jurisprudential fabric of ww2 America might as well been an entirely different nation, we’ll see how the warrior heritage class performs after decades of browbeating

[@ChangedCauseYT-HateFoxNames]

We're the eye of war, we have patrols, send troops to our interest, but to catch our eye is death.

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

Notice we don't have to start wars to be involved in them, Wars just happen and the United States gets involved, other countries think they can conquer the World and then the United States has to go in there and show them they are wrong!

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

Never served have you

[@aendoh]

No chance keeping the hostage video online?

[@Taskandpurpose]

I might be able to post it in a week , im working on it

[@aendoh]

@@Taskandpurpose hopefully it works at some point - thanks for your efforts, dude! :D

[@Nathan-vt1jz]

@@Taskandpurpose My guess is you’re getting mass reported by bots and activists. Which is disappointing as you really do a great job with honest reporting and being upfront with your bias.

[@paddington1670]

@@Nathan-vt1jz reporting shouldnt be taken seriously, it should merely be a call to action for youtube to put a human infront of the video to ascertain whether it really deserves to be removed instead of being an automatic AI generated response like they have in place right now.

[@Nathan-vt1jz]

@@paddington1670 I agree. I see why they do it given the volume of videos uploaded on the platform, though it makes sense for verified accounts like Task and Purpose to be immediately reviewed before taking down any videos.

[@ChristopherSloane]

The GWOT was one thing but the Ukraine war really gave a more accurate picture of modern combat which will change anyway given the capabilities of the participants. Drone warfare will be normalized and considerations for countering drones will be critical. Therefore moving supplies might be far more difficult, manning bunkers or fixed positions and the like will be far more difficult. It will take layers of defenses never seen before to counter the possibilities.

[@Kraken9911]

After watching an FPV drone play around with a lone soldier before the operator decided enough games and went in to kill him, I knew war was never going to be the same.

[@matthiasbroske7420]

Great research and good summary!!👍

[@passenger128]

Excellent video, greetings from Germany (:

[@MrThirstysuperior]

As a Polish citizen i am happy for German people to get their Army together it was long time that we had need for that , it was 3 generations of peace and prosperity, but eventually people forget and the sabers are rattling again. "If you want peace prepare for war" Hopefully this will deter anybody because when the s*** hits the fen say goodbye what we have build and achieved over this peaceful times, back to the stone age we go. 5 billion dead in 72 min and the rest will envy the dead Peace to all and God bless everyone.

[@josephgeorge641]

A polish guy cheering for Germany's military built up a sight i never thought i would see 😂😂😂

[@nimmha6708]

@@josephgeorge641 We are brothers nowadays.

[@Wuestenkarsten]

Thank God for Poland!! Without Poland, Putin could send the Moscow Fire Brigade to Conquer Berlin, that´s the Situation of German´s Forces. And as "usual" Poland is saving Europe: After Vienna against the Ottomans, 1919-1920 against the Red Army of the Soviet Union, in 1939-1945 against the Nazis on Allied Sides.Nowadays because of Poland , Germany is save. So, as a German I can only say: LONG LIVE HOLY POLAND!!!!!! PS: Inside Germany we have now the Enemy Inside with the Refugees, some Mistake Poland never did!!!! LONG LIVE HOLY POLAND!!!!

[@SmileyXY]

@josephgeorge641 Why wouldn't our nice neighbours and drinking buddies cheer for us rebuilding the ability to defend ourselves?

[@nimmha6708]

@@SmileyXY Because the dude wants to be funny I guess. Nowadays, Poland and Germany are very good allies. And I would step up and defend Poland IMMIDIATLY even though I was born in Germany..

[@stanleysmith7551]

Bundeswehr: we plan plan to increase our combat strength to 200k. World: 🤯 Meanwhile the Kaiser: 1 million soldiers combat ready, 3,5 million in reserve. Mustache man: 1,8 million combat ready, 7 million in reserve (waffen SS not included).

[@Melior_Traiano]

The Wehrmacht had a peak strength of around 12 million soldiers at its height, if I remember correctly.

[@silverbackboris]

​@@Melior_Traiano13

[@SusCalvin]

The old euro mass conscript armies are huge. Few nations use them today.

[@kriegshammer2161]

1980s : 550000+500000 reserve. 2500 Leopard 1 + 2500 Leopard 2. 1000 fighter aircraft. 2024 : 185000+30000 reserve. ( 200000+50000 reserve are planned) ,300 Leopard 2 A7 ( +400 older Leopard 2 A4 and 100 Leopard 1 A5 in storage), (100 brand new ordered by Rheinmetall) .200 fighter aircraft.

[@marvintiger9631]

From where did u get the Leo1 storage numbers?

[@masaorigins]

As a German, I was happy when I heard you say you're done saying ZeiTenwende. THERE'S NO S IN ZEITENWENDE 😂😂😂

[@steadmanuhlich6734]

Another very good and informative video from Chris Cappy. Well done. I just missed seeing Cappy in the commander hatch/ cockpits of the vehicles or aircraft.

[@MichaelMichaelides]

"I just missed seeing Cappy in the commander hatch/ cockpits of the vehicles or aircraft", 😅 I think that will have to make a comeback VERY soon! Stat tuned!

[@embreis2257]

6:14 yeah, like the claim of 1,000 combat aircraft or the navy having 'destroyers' in 1989. 😊

[@SpiritWolf1966]

I enjoy all of Task & Purpose videos

[@Uther1313]

Great analysis as usual.

[@Bogdan_Sarasek]

your video editor did a great job! There is really cool motion graphics and map animation!

[@vonries]

Thanks another interesting show, and a good lead in to another video.

[@gregpope4652]

Excellent video like always :)

[@gr4692]

Pls do a video about the kf51 and 41 ty, as an ex soldier im rly excited for my country to get such a modern technology, and i think a new generation tank since the 90s rly worth a video from you guys !

[@meganoob12]

Thanks for giving an unbiased and factbased take on the matter. Too many times in recent years the only thing Europeans and especially Germans would hear from the US was slander for not maintaining a huge army and instead giving wealth to it‘s people in times of peace.

[@barb.gerhard9501]

More like giving away it's wealth to immigrants, destroying it's own culture !

[@nutcrackit7396]

Yeah the great thing that comes with standardized ammunition for various equipment across NATO is that yes if one unit runs out of ammo another nearby unit can supply them even if they are completely different countries.

[@tsailor100]

Will they also have spare soldiers to replace the dead ones.

[@Alexvondark]

​@@tsailor100Only if they introduce conscription

[@Daxter250]

@@tsailor100 yeah, you ^^

[@proudfirebrand3946]

@@Daxter250 Dont think this doesnt include you too, LMAO regardless wherever you are from..

[@Daxter250]

​@@proudfirebrand3946 if war gets a hold of your country, threatening your freedom and democracy, you gotta take responsibility as a citizen if you want to keep your freedom. that doesnt automatically mean you will be sent to the front, you can already help being part of logistics or repairing stuff. you could also choose to be a coward, run away from your responsibilities spit on those who protect your rights. war is gruesome and absolutely disgusting, but people defend their homes in hopes that future generations won't have to live in an even worse world. NATO makes our world a little bit safer and if war does happen, a little less gruesome as we stand side by side with friends to rpotect our homes. so fucking show some respect to those people defending ya coward ass!

[@thedungeondelver]

Wild. I'm a kid of the Cold War, and did a lot of reading on NATO readiness vs. Soviet readiness. 18 new tanks? That was predicted to be an amount of tanks lost in a single sector in a half an hour. We (NATO) had what, 9000 tanks combined to try and hold off the Warsaw Pact? Now producing 18 new ones is a landmark event. Just wild.

[@Grimshak81]

These 18 tanks were to replace the ones given to Ukraine. That Germany had exported weapons into a war zone was the landmark event. Not that it was 18 tanks. And modern tanks are far more costly than old school tanks (also in relation). It’s obvious modern numbers are smaller overall.

[@tomitiustritus6672]

To be fair, the armies facing off were vastly larger back then. As was the personnel needed for doing things, as the Kampfkraft (fighting power?) of every single soldier and piece of equipment has grown. The numbers you see deployed in all of Ukraine today are akin to what two sides were sometimes throwing at a single city back in WW2. And as we can see in Ukraine, some things are straight up preventing the kind of massed, extremely high intensity war from back then. Russia learned the hard way that a BTG (a russian battalion equivalent combat unit formed from different units, due to the need to transform soviet style brigades into more autonomous groups.) is already too large a target on the battlefield. During the cold war, entire divisions were planned to stage massed armored assaults. Today in Ukraine, both sides have learned to only ever attack in groups of platoon size. Drones and modern optics and reconnaissance technology will spot every offensive movement far from reaching the front. Tactical surprise is almost non-existant now. Any larger accumulation of troops immediately turns into a high value target that can be wiped out with spotter drone corrected artillery fire. We have seen in early 2022, when the russian army went in with their BTG doctrine, that was already a decentralization of soviet doctrine developed from the experiences in Chechnia, Georgia and 2014 Ukraine, how entire companies and battalions were just wiped out cold. Now the priority is to not pose a large target, even at the expense of offensive capability. If you are seen, you can be hit and you **will** be seen. So the only way is to make it so that they can't hit many at once and force them to prioritize their allocation of expensive and limited ammunition and artillery systems. Kind of a crazy developement, if you think about it.

[@T40Xdav]

Tanks (and other military machines) were a lot less complicated to build a few decades ago.

[@TB-zf7we]

Great proverb, "everything has an end, only the Sausage has two"...😆

[@gulliverthegullible6667]

it is more like a silly song for carnival.

[@BR-nh9ki]

Some corrections: Germany had their first large out-of-area missions (that were more than humanitarian missions) around the time of the second Gulf War in 1990, then later in Somalia 1993, Bosnia 1995 and Kosovo 1999.

[@mogreen19]

Let me grab some pretzels for this. I wonder how Americans can survive without real beer ;-) Greetings from the other side of the pond

[@blakecrosby5123]

We will do fine with Australian beer. I'm drinking a cold fosters right now.

[@SavageHenry777]

The craft beer scene in the US is alive and well and has been for a while... But yeah annheiser-busch type swill is definitely pisswasser

[@redslate]

Whiskey

[@AverageInternetCitizen]

​@@blakecrosby5123Fosters in the US is made in the US. Congratulations, you've been scammed by marketing.

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

I as an American would swim the Atlantic ocean for your real beer.

[@kennichdendenn]

Little error at around 7:00 is: the german democratic republic was by its own definition, including the constitution and the name of the only and ruling party (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, socialist unity party of germany) a socialist state, not a communist one.

[@Grimshak81]

Where’s the difference? Communist Soviet Union and socialist east Germany weren’t communist or socialist anyway, they were rhetorical typical fascist autocracy. In the end it doesn’t matter how they called themselves.

[@Melior_Traiano]

By its own definition it was also "democratic", despite having only a single party. See how that works?

[@Kurikost_]

very well researched

[@leroyjenkins1911]

15:17 Why are videos of German soldiers in the winter so iconic and scary in the same time even though im German myself?

[@jsinope2786]

Where did Cappy’s beard go? Zeitenvendah?

[@Kaiser_Wilhelm_IV.]

All that money doesn't help if bureaucracy has it that security checks for new recruits and reserves require four bloody years to begin with.

[@MakeTheMessageClear]

ww1:wrong turn ww2:rejected ww3:Russia.

[@MilitarySummary10Minutes]

Excellent research and a great summary! Keep up the fantastic work!

[@doughudgens9275]

How many ways can Cappy pronounce Bundeswehr? (Most were wrong)

[@HubertofLiege]

Natzee was so simple, too

[@hennry129]

Learning the history of my country by an American. ✌️

[@TherebehoesinAlaska]

Greetings from Alaska!! ✌️

[@maritaschweizer1117]

Gibt es heutzutage keinen Geschichts Unterricht in der Schule?

[@Vicious_Species]

From the USA, Germany, wake tf up. Your time being dormant is over. Grow up and play your responsible role in Europe and the World. The World needs the Military Power Germany. We trust you Germany!

[@Luzi-chan]

u really think that germany would out its economy in military mode? that will only happen when ww3 begins. and if ww3 breaks out, i will move my ass over to australia or new zealand.

[@kiterkun1606]

The problem is not only that we Germans are afraid that people will think badly of us again, but also the 2+4 treaty, which for example prohibits us from having more than a certain number of soldiers and imposes other rules

[@AxGerm756]

​@@kiterkun1606buddy.... We are even 50-70% BELOW the level that the 2+4 treaty allows 🙄 This has nothing to do with the 4+2 treaty but with people like former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder who is LITERALLY Putin's personal best friend. Nobody forces us to UNDERFILL the 2+4 treaty by more than 50%. Our stupid German government came up with that insane idea 💡.....🙄 And even if that treaty would prohibit something. The 3 of the 4 countries that would today Represent the big 4 from that treaty 🇺🇸🇷🇺🇨🇵🇬🇧 Would be cool if we have a normal sized military. And forget about Russia. You can not expect That 🇷🇺 says they are fine with us having a larger military, when they are actively planning to invade western Europe, which a larger German military would prevent... So all that is needed to change those treaties is to ask 🇺🇸🇨🇵🇬🇧 for permission. And if NATO article 5 is called, you can be assured that 🇺🇸🇨🇵🇬🇧 would rather see a Germany that can defend ITSELF and is able to do it's job, rather than a small military that is constantly begging Uncle Sam, Uncle Starmer or Uncle Macron for help and doesn't even have warm underwear...😂😂

[@knoll9812]

Already happening. Germany standing with other European armies.

[@iliketoast-q9b]

@@kiterkun1606 Nonsense, the number of active soldiers in the german army has been far higher since the 2+4 treaty was signed, which incidentally gives the german state full sovereignty over it's foreign and domestic affairs. The problem is a lack of education when it comes to economics, leading to a majority of german citizens and politicians embracing the moronic debt-break. More people are coming around to the idea that maybe deficit spending is often times necessary and not a bad thing per se, but it's still very much the case that most germans think we're spending too much and that we should run a country like a fictional frugal housewife, utter nonsense.

[@Katejsej]

Thank you greens for being realistic and building our military up again!

[@Riondrial]

As much as i heard in a german defence dedicated YT channel, this first half year of 2024, there were 33 approved projects by the german budget committee: 1. Development of close and next air defence system, production of 4 squadrons in 2027, 1,2 billion 2. 19 Skyranger 30 A3 are being purchased, Prototype end of year, series 2026, 650 Mio €, with option of additional 30 3. Clothing and personal equipment for regular soldiers and special forces like combat clothing, protective vests, combat helmets and 110 liter backpacks. Marine gets complete new clothing. Logistic and storage is included, 2,2 bio € 4. 16.000 additional night vision devices `Theon Mikron` for 162 mio €, which are 41k total ordered, 12k already delivered 5. New radar development for Eurofighter, 102 mio € 6. 4 Patriot systems C3+, 2025-2029, 1,28 bio € 7. 123 heavy gun carrier infantry 'SWATRG INF´ for 1,943 bio € and additional 750 mio € for 'Integrated logistic support', to keep them running, 2025 - 2030 8. Something like headsets with hearing protection function, first 30k for 81 mio € 9. Agdus-System for Puma, 258 pieces for this duel simulator, 109 mio € 10. 15.180 training rockets for the Tiger attack helicopters, 2024 - 2026, 54 mio €, can later go up to 31k 11. Eurofighter system definition phase, a bunch of upgrades, 97 mio € 12. Several things around the Eurofighter, like the education and training, mission briefings, compatibility and other things, 43 mio € 13. NH-90 helicopters software upgrade and additional systems, 217 mio € 14. Over 962k smoke grenades 'TYP DM45' till 2027, 67 mio €, can go up to 1.5 mio grenades 15. AMRAAMs for Eurofighter, 178 mio €, additional ones in September 16. IT components, 146,2 mio € 17. Spare parts logistic, 324,7 mio € 18. The 4 F123 Brandenburg class frigates get an upgrade for 1,2 bio €, 2026 - 2029 19. 155mm artillery shells for 880 mio € (was 5th June, there are orders in what? Up to 8,8 bio € now in 7the July?) 20. 1250 unprotected trucks, 265 protected trucks, payload 15 tons, plus accesories, end of 2024, 920 mio €, can go up to 4k trucks 21. 48 MK 54 MOD0 Torpedos for P-8a Poseidon and the training and maintenance, 122 mio € 22. German Mission Network Block 2, 2025, around 100 mio € 23. 2 additional frigates F126, 2033 - 2034., 2,8 bio €, additional 300 mio € for maintainence, mission moduls and other stuff 24. Munition, 7,62 mm x 51 soft core and 9mm x 19 soft core, 105 mio € 25. 45 HUDs for Tornados, 2026 - 2027, 66 mio €, dont ask me about that 26. 274 operational missle Brimstone 3 rockets, starters, testing equipment and other stuff, starting 2028, 376 mio €, can go up to 3266 27. 500 Stinger FIM-92 Block 1 with proximity fuse, 2028 - 2029, 395 mio € 28. Development of supersonic strike missile 3SM 'Tyrfing' for frigates, Germany and Norway, 650 mio € for Germanys part 29. 2 communication sattelites and their operating costs, 2027 for at least 15 years, 2,2 bio € 30. 6,5k unprotected, 2 -, 4- ,6- axis, all terrain, all wheel drive, trucks with payloads of 3,5 tons, 5 tons and 15 tons, 610 with containers and other stuff ordered, 313 mio €, delivery starts this year 31. New airfield firefighting vehicles, 2026 - 2029, 84 mio €, with option of addiotional ones on short notice 32. Scouting equipment `BAA' for Fennek, 2027 - 2029, 86 mio € 33. Additional stuff for the F123 Brandenburg class Frigates, 103 mio €

[@777Brooklynbeast777]

GOOD! DAS IST SEHR GUT

[@alik5972]

How many times do they have to teach you old man

[@First_to_Fire]

Cappy, your German is horrible, but it is funny. Having served three tours in Germany, it was always clear to me that the Germans were never going to recreate WW II. If they were going to invade anywhere, it would be a sunny nude beach. I will be interested to see if the Germans can pull off the improvements but I am not confident.

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

currently the Bundeswehr is recieving more than 700 Boxer based IFV´s, CRV´s, AA and SAM carriers, 155mm SPGs etc, there is also contracts in place to procure more Puma IFV, Leopard 2A8´s, more surface combat units (F-126 and F-127 frigates, K130 corvettes etc) and increase the fleet of 212 Class AEP uboats from 6 to 9, Replace the Tornado IDS (Interdiction Strike) with F-35, Replace the Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat Recon) with EF-2000 ECR etc. I would dare to say, that the Bundeswehr right now is more capable of facing off against a serious peer opponent in the field than France or the UK, who transition to light motorised brigades. (UK is transitioning away from mechanised to striker brigade equivalents, the french military is completely striker brigade equivalent or MRAP mounted infantry with very light equipment. like 100 truck mounted spg´s and 100 towed 120mm mortarts for the whole army, their IFV´s are comparable to the Stryker Dragoon etc)

[@autobootpiloot]

Being a neighbour to Germany, things are changing. Germans are still Germans and in (all of) Europe we have a serious problem of foreign cultures threatening domestic cultures. I can see the Germans “cleansing” their country again and a powerful military might make it difficult to stop them. And the sad part is I’m not sure what to think about that.

[@djzrobzombie2813]

​@@autobootpilootGermans will never change. . Don't kid yourself

[@edwardsmith135]

@@zhufortheimpaler4041don’t know where to start considering how wrong you are that Germanys military is more capable than France and UK, but one very important factor is modern Germany’s total lack of experience. Germanys army and society is not ready for the realities of war.

[@Pokepokeboom]

@@edwardsmith135wrong

[@lukasbunte-hoga5430]

I am an retired Bundeswehr soldier. ThisVideo is a very accurate and well informed piece of education. Gute Arbeit.

[@Tyrs_Finox]

If we're ever going to make any progress in the West then we need to move beyond WW2, and that includes Germany as well. Good to see some progress, although rebuilding to an armed force of abit over 200k isn't that much, really its the minimum credible deterrent for a country of that size.

[@CarstenStrauss]

Thanks for adding the historical perspective and the reasons for the underfunding, especially for american viewers. As a German, I can state that your analysis is absolutely correct, there's only few information to add: Germany is facing several problems, e.g. demographic change, immigration, old infrastructure (roads, bridges, rail, phone/internet, ...), high costs for public administration. All this leads to a lack of funding in all ministries, since there has been made an addendum to the Grundgesetz (the equivalent to other countries constitution) in 2009 which prohibits a deficit in the federal budget (the so called "Schuldenbremse" ~ "debt brake"). Unthinkable for US citizens, I know. Hope you can understand why we're struggling

[@yuriboyka9927]

Now playing: Why the German Army is Rebuilding (again) Previous video: Why Poland is Preparing for War to Prevent it Oh shit, here we go again. /s

[@charliefoxtrott1048]

21:33 "Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei!" From one Chis to another: Well Done!

[@luzifershadres]

France, Britain and America in the 90s: "No germany, we dont trust you enough to have an big army after reunification! Reduce it to a bare minum if you want reunification!" Germany in the 90s: "Ok, than we dont realy need an army anymore than." France, Britain and America today: "Why does germany doesnt have an army? Why do they hate it that much?"

[@gagamba9198]

A _whole_ eighteen new Leopard 2 tanks? 18. That'll show the Russians.

[@univeropa3363]

Germany is just virtue-signalling in Ukraine (at the cost of Ukrainians).

[@Essey209]

yeah but russian tanks have like 3km range? and leopard 2 has like 5 ? something like that

[@univeropa3363]

@@Essey209 The Leopard worked wonders last year, huh?

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

the 18 are just the first batch to backfill the units that were handed over to ukraine. there are in total 53 on order to equip the Lithuania brigade with brand new Leopard 2A8´s. generally germany has 5 active armored bataillons with 44 Leopard 2A7V´s each (all units are currently modernised to that standard), so 220 active units, in addition to that a 6th currently deactivated/reserve bataillon, so 264 units, with a circulating reserve of 60 vehicles (for maintenance replacement etc) In Addition germany currently recieves 135 Boxer CRV´s (Boxer heavy APC with 30mm cannon, spike launcher etc), 120+ Boxer IFV´s (Boxer heavy APC with Puma IFV turret, so 30mm cannon, spike, coax, APS etc), 50 Skyranger 30 SPAA (Boxer with Skyranger 30mm AA turret and short range surface to air missiles, radar etc), around 170 RCH155 spg´s (Boxer with 155mm artillery module), 40-50 medium SAM systems (Iris-T SLM on Boxer), more Puma IFV´s, several hundret Patria or similar 6x6 APC´s as utllity systems (mortar carrier, apc, engineer transport etc) and so on. When this is done, germanys army is more modern and heavier equipped than the UK and france combined

[@thedonkey6704]

@@Essey209 quantity over quality is a viable strategy.

[@skboog]

Pretty sure Task & Purpose has done a video on a German Tank where he talks about how cooked the German Military Structure is and how a Leopard Tank had to be outfitted with blinkers etc as it had to apply to a certain Road Safety Standard, basically every decision is subject to non Military personal who compromise the efficiency of the actual Military to properly outfit and structure them self's.

[@wolfganghuhn7747]

Dude a leopard is inefficient if the indicator is broken, a T90 has no turret anymore

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

keep in mind that german armored vehicles are required to take part in regular road traffic around training areas or on road marches from the barracks to the training area and reverse. i have served a few years in the firebrigade on the route of one of the mechanised brigades from and to the training area. We had dozens of cases where people had car accidents with tanks/ifv´s over the years There is a good reason why german AFV´s have to be street legal.

[@skboog]

​@@zhufortheimpaler4041 If the tank needs to go on the road then organise a lead vehicle, some comms, a couple flashing lights and off you go. Germany just loves to make things extra complicated.

[@Grimshak81]

That’s a common myth soldiers tell themselves to feel superior. Never was true, never will be.

[@nicolasfigueiredo6167]

​@zhufortheimpaler4041 during a war will the driver signal to the enemy which side he is going to turn? If you're build your tanks with peace in mind then you guys shouldn't be building it in the first place....