CDU politician wants former NVA soldiers as reservists

After left-wing politician Dietmar Bartsch, CDU/CSU parliamentary group deputy leader Sepp Müller is also calling for former soldiers of the GDR's National People's Army (NVA) to be integrated into the Bundeswehr. In view of the personnel shortage, the CDU politician proposes that in future they should be able to help with national defense as reservists if they so wish. Up to now, this has generally not been possible.

"It's time to call on the soldiers of the NVA who volunteer to protect our freedom," Müller, who comes from Saxony-Anhalt, told Stern magazine. He would like to see extra courses for training as homeland security officers. These should take into account the fact that ex-NVA soldiers were already liable for military service. At the end, they would be required to swear allegiance to the Basic Law.

Former NVA members cannot yet be called up as reservists, unless they were employed in the Bundeswehr after reunification. This was stipulated in the Unification Treaty. Left-wing politician Bartsch recently called for this regulation to be reconsidered - even though the former NVA soldiers are now all likely to be over 50 years old.

Massive shortage of reservists

According to its own plans, the Bundeswehr needs 200,000 reservists who can be deployed quickly in the event of defense. "But there are currently only 51,000 reservists," says Müller. Anyone who has served in the Bundeswehr and has not lost their rank is a reservist - in mathematical terms, that is currently around 860,000 people.

Since military service was compulsory in the GDR, a corresponding new regulation could affect several hundred thousand men between the ages of 50 and 65. The Bundeswehr's homeland security regiments are largely made up of reservists; in the event of a crisis or defense, they ensure that troops reach their deployment location quickly and safely and that the infrastructure is protected.