The German Bundeswehr is setting up a fourth unit to secure infrastructure and important military installations in Germany. The future national defense division will consist of reservists and active soldiers and will be under a unified command, the army spokesman told the dpa news agency.
Last year, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ordered the creation of a new structure at the Bundeswehr citing the changed threat situation.
The army currently has three divisions – each with about 20,000 personnel. These are the 1st and 10th Panzer Divisions, as well as the Light and High Mobility Infantry Rapid Division (DSK). The fourth large unit is set up for internal defense.
In conflict and crisis situations, the national defense forces will be tasked with protecting ports, railway facilities and transshipment points, as well as pipelines, troop deployment roads, bridges, transport hubs and digital infrastructure. They will also be tasked with protecting Germany’s role as a NATO operational base and hub. In times of peace, the national defense forces can also be deployed to provide assistance in the event of serious accidents, terrorist incidents, or pandemics.
According to the plans, the existing divisions could be deployed under the leadership of NATO at NATO’s external borders as a deterrent or to defend against a possible aggressor, possibly in Poland, Lithuania or Estonia. And the national defense forces would be available in Germany in such a situation.
Source: nepszava.hu
