Suspected Reich citizens in the Bundeswehr in Ulm and right-wing extremism in the KSK in Calw. In the fight against right-wing activities, the Bundeswehr has not cut a happy figure recently. The defense commissioner of the Bundestag, Eva Högl, is now calling for more prevention and political education.
“The soldiers are really at their limit. And it is sometimes the case that the things that are also important for mental strength, for character and also for political education fall behind,” said the Federal Armed Forces Commissioner, Eva Högl, in the SWR interview of the week. Therefore, a stronger focus must now be placed on ethical and legal foundations, on character stability, mental fitness and political education. With the study of the Center for Military History and Social Sciences of the Bundeswehr in Potsdam one could build on this.
“The soldiers are really at their limit.”
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You can listen to the entire interview here.
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Reich citizens in the Bundeswehr are terrifying
After the suspected cases that became known at a Bundeswehr authority in Ulm, according to which several employees are supposed to belong to the Reich citizens, Högl demands careful clarification: “It is a terrifying finding that we actually have a whole series of cases in the Bundeswehr as well as in other security authorities”, said the defense officer in the SWR. Therefore it is also right that such cases do not remain hidden. “Of course there have been a lot of individual cases recently that are now coming to light. And the question always arises: Are there structures?” It is precisely the task to determine this: “I will not go so far as to say there are no networks. But neither will I go so far as to say that we have no reason or no knowledge for this,” said Högl.
Reforms in the fight against right-wing extremism are well received by the KSK
The Armed Forces Commissioner sees the restructuring of the KSK in Calw on the right track. She has visited the KSK three times since taking office and has only just been there again, said Högl. They perceive that the reforms are well received there and “that they see it as a task to reposition themselves now”.
“I am very confident that the Special Forces Command has a bright future.”
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The KSK in Calw was criticized for right-wing extremist incidents. For example, a soldier from Calw had hoarded weapons on his property. At least part of it comes from the armed forces. After Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) had already threatened the dissolution of the Calwer Special Forces Command (KSK), an interim report on the reforms is now available and the dissolution is apparently off the table.
Manuscript for the interview of the week with the defense commissioner of the Bundestag Eva Högl
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