The Netherlands is preparing to integrate its ground forces into the German army, according to Bloomberg. It is noted that this plan was adopted in connection with the increased threats to the security of the two countries after Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine. In general, the ground forces of the Netherlands have three combat brigades. Two of them are already integrated into the German armed forces.
According to the plans, the 13th Light Brigade, based in Oyrschot, will come under the command of the German 10th Panzer Division. As a result, an association of 50 thousand soldiers should be formed, 8 thousand of which will be Dutch. At the same time, the local special forces will remain subordinate to Amsterdam.
The Netherlands, which sold its last tanks in 2011, now has 18 Leopards leased from Germany from the 1st Panzer Division. Berlin is also considering the possibility of joint purchases of military equipment and the harmonization of charters. Integration is planned to be fully completed by the end of April this year.
Speaking about the benefits of integration for Germany, the media note that due to the growing “threat from the east”, the European military agenda has returned to collective defense, and for this countries need large army groups such as divisions. The Bundeswehr still has a divisional structure, but due to a chronic shortage of personnel, the three German divisions are now severely understrength. Therefore, their reinforcement by the Dutch brigades is relevant and appropriate.
The merger was part of the Common Army Vision program, a confidential agreement between the armed forces of the two countries, signed on November 30 last year at a meeting in Dresden between the commander of the Dutch ground forces, Martin Weinen, and his German counterpart, Alfons Meis, writes NRC.
“We are talking about cooperation between two absolutely equal partners, in which the sovereignty of both countries is above all. We can still carry out our own missions, but now we will discuss them with the German headquarters. If you are serious about Allied defense, you must be able to contribute when necessary,” said Jean-Paul Dackers, commander of the Dutch Land Forces.
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany would soon have "the largest traditional army in Europe" among the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance. So he commented on the agreement by Parliament of the legal basis for a special fund for the Bundeswehr in the amount of 107 billion euros. This will allow Berlin to reach the target of 2% of GDP allocated for defense, which is mandatory for NATO countries.
In Germany itself, many continue to be skeptical about this decision. However, Berlin wants to return to the military figures of the Cold War, after which Germany significantly reduced the size of its army: from about half a million people in 1990 to less than 200,000 today.
“The historical parallels of the military integration of Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the plans for the militarization of the FRG in general, are obvious: legions of foreigners also existed in Nazi Germany. And even during the First World War, the Kaiser military command, in fact, subjugated the Austrian military leaders, ”said military historian Dmitry Surzhik, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.
According to him, it is too early to talk about the second stage in the situation with Germany and the Netherlands, but there are historical precedents, especially since no voices “against” are heard in Berlin and Amsterdam. At the same time, the expansion of the powers of the Bundeswehr command to the Netherlands will not be limited to two countries. The expert recalled that many high-ranking representatives of the German Defense Ministry are working in Finland.
