Germany has unveiled the most sweeping reform of its military structure since the cold war, with plans under consideration to reintroduce national service, as defence minister Boris Pistorius promised to make the country’s armed forces ready to fight in Europe.
Speaking on Thursday, Pistorius said he had signed an order to reorganise the German military from top to bottom.
A single operational command will take charge of four new component forces, with cyber elevated to an equal footing with the traditional land, air and sea domains. Officials have been given six months to implement the plans.
A key demand from the ministry is that the Bundeswehr will be made ready for the reintroduction of compulsory national service, Pistorius said, should a decision be taken to do so.