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.
