Strong protection is essential
In the realm of international politics, the development of defense strategies is a topic of great importance. One such strategy that has been gaining traction is the concept of the Alternative Bundeswehr, a proposed reimagining of Germany's military force.
The roots of this ideology can be traced back to the 1980s, during the relaxation of the East-West conflict, and were further revived after 1970 by a group around the philosopher and physicist Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker. The ideology, which gained prominence as the SPD's party platform, renounces capital-intensive offensives and aims to save costs by leveraging the home advantage.
Colonel Bogislaw von Bonin, head of the "Operative Planning" department in the Blank Office, was a key figure in the development of this ideology. However, he was dismissed in 1955 by his comrades who later became the leaders of the Bundeswehr.
The Alternative Bundeswehr, if implemented, would require a personnel strength of at least 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists, according to the new NATO targets. This force would be designed to withstand robust attacks and provide compact intervention forces for crisis resolution, following the "spider-in-the-web principle." These forces would be suitable for supporting endangered neighbors and acting as troubleshooters within local defensive structures.
The need for such a force is evident in the current geopolitical climate. Russia, self-proclaimed "leader state" in the East, is a threat, particularly to neighboring countries and the West. Despite its military power and economic base not being stronger than Italy's, Russia relies heavily on the sale of fossil energy carriers. The Russian army has been unable to subjugate Ukraine despite quantitative superiority and support from other totalitarian regimes in three years.
The unpredictable stance of US President Donald Trump towards NATO has also caused panic among the elites of the alliance. Trump's trade policy indicates a desire to weaken Europe. To curry Trump's favor, NATO countries aim to increase annual defense spending from around 2 percent of GDP to 3.5 percent by 2035. However, only Spain and Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius aim to reach this defense spending target before 2030.
The planned defense spending will be credit-financed, requiring enormous interest payments each year. This credit financing puts military spending in competition with the social state, an important pillar of fragile democracies. The Alternative Bundeswehr, with its focus on volunteers and cadre-based units, could potentially make personnel recruitment less costly.
Crucially, the experts unanimously rejected the conduct of war with nuclear weapons. They favor a small arsenal for deterrence and the repulsion of attacks, without elements of "punishment." This approach emphasizes deterrence through the repulsion of attacks, using a "net" consisting of infantry forces, precise artillery, or teams with tactical drones.
In conclusion, the Alternative Bundeswehr represents a shift in defense strategy, one that prioritizes compact intervention forces, cost-effectiveness, and deterrence over capital-intensive offensives. As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, the development and implementation of such strategies will undoubtedly be a topic of ongoing discussion and debate.
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