“The New German War Machine…”

December 3, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Ammunition, Armies, Bundeswehr, Germany, Military, War Leave a comment

Just lost half its ammunition.

After World War II, Germany embraced pacifism as a form of atonement. Now the country is arming itself again…

Thousands of rounds of German army ammunition stolen from lorry – A shipment of German ammunition has been stolen from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg, the country’s defence ministry has said.

Speaking to Germany’s DPA news agency, officials did not specify how much was taken. However, other reports cited a defence spokesperson as saying it was close to 20,000 rounds.

Snipers in the subway?

November 18, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: Berlin, Bollwerk Bärlin III, German, Germany, Language, Military, Russia, Training, Ukraine, Urban Warfare, War Leave a comment

Germans copying amerikanische Verhältnisse (American conditions, the American situation) again or what? Sheesh.

Snipers in the metro: German military conducts urban warfare drills in Berlin – German military forces began a five-day urban warfare training exercise in Berlin, focusing on rapid deployment and protection of critical infrastructure in a landmark event.

German military forces began five days of urban warfare training in Berlin, practising emergency deployment scenarios across the capital as Europe’s security landscape shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Bundeswehr’s guard battalion launched the “Bollwerk Bärlin III” exercise on Sunday at multiple locations including Jungfernheide underground station, the Ruhleben police training ground and a former chemical plant site in Rüdersdorf.

Voluntary military service to introduce voluntary military service

November 14, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Armies, Army, Bundeswehr, Conscription, Draft, Germany, Military Leave a comment

But only on a voluntary basis.

Never touch a running system Not even when it’s not running.

Germany to introduce voluntary military service – After months of wrangling, the government has decided not to reintroduce conscription. But all 18-year-old males will have to fill in a questionnaire, and young men will soon have to undergo mandatory physical exams.

We can’t defend our own country…

November 10, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Defense, Drones, Germany, Military, NATO, Putin, Russia, Ukraine Leave a comment

From drones. It’s illegal or something here in Germany.

So we’ll send our drone-defense experts to help some other country. Keeps them busy.

German Luftwaffe dispatches drone-defense experts to help Belgium – The German military has sent specialists to Belgium to help authorities there combat drones following sightings near crucial military facilities, including those housing nuclear weapons.

The Bundeswehr announced the move in a press release late Thursday. According to the military, first units of the Luftwaffe – Germany’s air force – have already arrived in Belgium, where they are investigating the situation on the ground and coordinating with the Belgian armed forces. Further German forces would “soon follow,” the military said.

By 2029?

October 29, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hi-tech, Home Cooking Tags: Defense, Drones, Germany, Lasers, Military, Navy, Ships Leave a comment

In Germany? I have my doubts.

And “cost-effective?” This is more doubtful yet.

German laser weapon could be on ships by 2029, say contractors – “Successful tests conducted on the frigate SACHSEN proved the demonstrator’s tracking capability, effectiveness and precision under real operational conditions for the first time in Europe,” the announcement says...

“Based on this, an operational laser weapon system could be available to the German Navy as of 2029, providing a powerful and cost-effective addition to conventional guided missiles,” the statement adds.

Much To Do About Nothing

October 15, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: Armies, Draft, Germany, Military, Soldiers Leave a comment

Too few volunteers for the German military?

“I know, we’ll reintroduce the draft for everyone.” “No, we’ll introduce a lottery instead.”

They will do neither, of course. In a country where the majority of the citizenry openly admits that it would not defend it, the “debate” is meaningless.

Germany news: Coalition frictions open on military service – A canceled presentation on a military service breakthrough showed further signs of tension between the CDU and SPD.

If you have to debate this now…

September 13, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: Army, Bundeswehr, Defense, Draft, Germany, Military, Russia, Ukraine, Volunteers Leave a comment

Then you know it ain’t never gonna happen.

Germany debates return to compulsory military service – As Germany adapts to a volatile geopolitical landscape, attention has turned to filling the ranks of its armed forces. Among Germany’s youth, attitudes towards the Bundeswehr have been shifting…

A new draft law aims to boost Bundeswehr troop numbers by surveying 18-year-olds — mandatory for men, voluntary for women.

German of the day: Falsche Nostalgie

September 9, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: Defense, Friedrich Merz, German, Germany, Language, Military, NATO, Russia, Ukraine, USA Leave a comment

That means false nostalgia.

Germany’s Merz warns against ‘false nostalgia’ over US alliance – The chancellor’s comments show European leaders are girding for a future in which the transatlantic alliance is no longer the bedrock on which the continent’s defense and economy stand.

“We must face the fact that our relationship with the U.S. is changing, The U.S. is reassessing its interests — and not just since yesterday. And so we in Europe must also adjust our interests, without false nostalgia.”

“Why the Bundeswehr cannot shoot them down?”

September 6, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Defense, Drones, Germany, Military, NATO, Russia, Ukraine Leave a comment

Duh. Because the Bundeswehr cannot shoot them down.

They don’t have the means.

Russian spy drones over Germany: Why the Bundeswehr cannot shoot them down – Russia uses surveillance drones over eastern Germany to monitor Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. German authorities are struggling to counter these espionage activities.

Russian surveillance drones are conducting reconnaissance flights over eastern Germany to track arms shipments to Ukraine, with over 530 drone sightings recorded in the first three months of this year alone, according to Western intelligence services.

They track the ever-changing routes of European military transports to identify which weapons will soon reach Ukraine, where new war equipment will be delivered, and when new ammunition will arrive at the front.

Of course Germans back voluntary military service

August 28, 2025 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Conscription, Draft, German, Germany, Language, Military, Pacifism, Volunteers Leave a comment

As long as they aren’t expected to volunteer themselves.

German cabinet backs voluntary military service, opening door to conscription – Compulsory military service in Germany was ended in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany’s military a priority given the threat from Russia and said “we are now back on the path to a military service army”.

He summed up his thinking earlier this year saying: “We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we don’t have to defend ourselves.”

Observing Hermann

“Was interessiert mich mein Geschwätz von gestern?”

Tag Archives: Military