German defense ministry retracts Wehrmacht integration directive
After facing criticism, the German Ministry of Defense had to revise its decision regarding individuals who served in the Wehrmacht. This decision concerned the possibility of incorporating members of this formation into the traditions of the German army, considering their achievements in World War II, reported the daily "Tageszeitung".
6:44 AM EDT, August 15, 2024
In 2018, Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the German Ministry of Defense, signed a new decree on the tradition of the Bundeswehr, based on the previous version from 1982. The decree outlines what should and is worthy of the traditions of the German army. According to the federal defense ministry's website, the document emphasizes that the Wehrmacht, as "a bearer of the Nazi regime," cannot be a source of tradition for the Bundeswehr.
An exception is made for the resistance fighters of July 20, 1944, members of the founding generation of the Federal Republic of Germany, or other individuals who have significant merits for justice and freedom. These individuals are important for preserving the Bundeswehr traditions. However, the decree notes that each case of including Wehrmacht members in the Bundeswehr traditions must be individually investigated.
Amended decree and scandal in Germany
In July, the Ministry of Defense added amendments to the decree, allowing members of the Wehrmacht to be included in the traditions of the Bundeswehr if they contributed to its development after 1945 without being part of the resistance movement. The German daily "Tageszeitung" wrote on Wednesday that the reason for the new clause was "the armed forces' need for more combat capabilities," a goal set by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Furthermore, "Tageszeitung" noted that the amendment to the decree was not only about including Wehrmacht members for their later contributions to the Bundeswehr but also considering their supposed successes during World War II.
On Wednesday, after public criticism of the new decree amendments, the German Ministry of Defense retracted them. The head of the department stated that the amendments "proved to be unfavorable in hindsight." A spokesperson for the defense ministry emphasized that "military excellence alone, demonstrated during World War II, is not sufficient and has never been sufficient to be worthy of tradition in the sense of the decree on tradition."
