101. On 3 October 1990, Germany regained its unity. This was the day on which the German people's desire for unity in peace and freedom was fulfilled. The Cold War is over, and the unnatural division of Germany and Europe has been overcome.
The failure of communism and the fall of the iron Curtain in 1989 mark a profound change in the entire system of international relations. At the same time, there has been an improvement in the overall security situation, especially for Germany. Europe now has the historic opportunity to grow together into a free and united continent.
THE ROAD TO GERMAN UNITY
102. It was due to the courage and determination of the Germans on the other side of the wall and barbed wire that the power of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) and its machinery of repression collapsed in a bloodless revolution within a matter of weeks. Another factor was that the inhabitants of the GDR knew for certain that the Federal Republic of Germany would persistently upheld, in its domestic and foreign policy, the claim to reunification and the right of all Germans to self determination as stated in the Basic Law.
103. The unity of the German state has been restored in agreement with the Four Powers and with the approval of the international community. Crucial prerequisites for this historic development were the support we received from our Western allies, the policy of reform initiated by President Mikhail Gorbachev in the former Soviet Union and the dramatic changes that took place in the states of Central Europe, especially in Poland and Hungary.
104. In the second half of 1989, the leadership of the GDR, faced with a mass exodus and increasing protest demonstrations, found itself in a hopeless situation. The insidious disintegration of communist rude in the states of the Warsaw Pact, which started in the 1980s, was now also obvious in the GDR. On 2 October 1989, 20,000 people demonstrated in Leipzig. One week later, this figure had risen to 70,000. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of thousands of people attended the Leipzig "Monday Demonstrations", taking to the streets to demand reforms and a democratic renewal of the GDR, and chanting: "We are the people," The regime was unable to withstand these developments.
A heated debate on a new law permitting inhabitants of the GDR to travel abroad led to the resignation Of the Chairman of the Council of State and his government. On 9 November 1989, the newly formed Politburo of the SED ordered that the border be opened; the power of the SED collapsed. Rejected by the vast majority of its citizens, the GDR was now shown to be what it had been all along: a state in which justice did not prevail and freedom was unknown, capable of existing only by means of totalitarian control and the supervision of all spheres of life.
105. As early as 28 November 1989, Federal Chancellor Kohl presented a ten-point programme on intra-German policy to the Bundestag. This placed the process of German unification in the context of developments throughout Europe. The mad to German reunification was prepared programmatically. On 18 March 1990, the first free elections were held in the GDR. The parties that received most votes were those that advocated a rapid and fundamental change in the political order to a system of freedom and democracy. The first freely elected government, headed by Prime Minister Lothar de Maizière, resolutely pursued the objective of "conducting negotiations with the Federal Government with the aim of bringing about the unity of Germany on the basis of Article 23 of the Basic Law, swiftly and in a responsible manner, and for the entire GDR at the same time".
These negotiations soon led to the signing of historic treaties: On 1 July 1990, the Monetary, Economic and Social Union between the two German states came into force. The Unification Treaty governed the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law. It took effect on the night of 2/3 October 1990, thus ending the division of Germany, which had lasted over 45 years.
106. While these negotiations were taking place, the governments of the two German states, together with the United States, France, Great Britain and the Soviet Union, drew up the Final Settlement with respect to Germany; the Two plus Four Treaty. It terminated the rights ad responsibilities of the Four Powers for Berlin and Germany as a whole. The united Germany gained full sovereignty over its domestic and external affairs. The treaty was signed on 12 September 1990 in Moscow.
The Two plus Four negotiations were accompanied by numerous bilateral consultations between the foreign ministers and heads of government. One of the major problems in this contest was the Soviet attitude toward, the issue of the united Germany's membership of an alliance. On 15 and 16 July 1990, the Federal Chancellor, accompanied by Foreign Minister Genscher and Finance Minister Waigel, travelled to Moscow and the Caucasus to new President Gorbachev and discuss how this problem could be solved. Their talks brought about the decisive breakthrough on this issue. On 16 July 1990, Germany and the Soviet Union reached agreement on the following points:
* The united Germany would be free to choose which alliance it wished to belong to;
* Soviet troops would be withdrawn from Germany by the end of 1994;
* Over the same period, the peacetime strength of the German armed forces would be reduced to a maximum of 370,000;
* A comprehensive treaty on German-Soviet relations would be concluded (this treaty was signed in Bonn on 9 November 1990).
107. On its way to unity the reunited Germany has made major contributions to the consolidation of peace and stability in Europe. It has confined the definitive nature of its borders in the Two plus Four Treaty of 12 September 1990 and in the treaty signed with Poland on 14 September 1990. In addition, the Federal Government has reaffirmed that Germany will not wage a war of aggression and that it will renounce the manufacture and possession of and control over NBC weapons.
Today, Germany is embedded in an interwoven fabric of relations, embracing the alliances, the Euro-Atlantic institutions and the bilateral treaties with our neighbours. Integration and cooperation thus not only continue to be the essential factors determining German policy, but also become the central elements of a concept geared to stability throughout Europe.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FORMERLY SOVIET FORCES FROM GERMANY
108. In the sphere of foreign and security policy, one of the important tasks resulting from German unity is to establish the rules governing the presence and withdrawal of the formerly Soviet forces. At the same time, this touches vital interests of the new Länder and their population. The, contractual basis, which had to be created within a few weeks, has proved a success.
109. On 12 October 1990, the now united Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Treaty on the Terms of the Temporary Presence and Arrangements for the Planned Withdrawal of the Soviet Forces from the Territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Agreement on Transitional Measures, in particular relating to the financial aspects of the presence and withdrawal of Soviet forces from Germany, had already been signed on 9 October 1990.
110. The agreements cover the provision of service support under the conditions of a market economy, regulations governing military exercises, compliance with the German legal system by the personnel of the Western Group of Forces (WGF) and their dependants, environmental and real estate matters, customs and tax matters, the execution of troop movements, retraining measures and housing constructions programmes.
111. On the basis of the joint Declaration made by Federal Chancellor Kohl and President Yeltsin on 16 December 1992, the withdrawal of the formerly Soviet forces from Germany is to be accelerated; it will be completed by 31 August 1994. About 90 per cent of WGF members (totalling 546,200, of which about 340,000 were military personnel) had been withdrawn by the end of 1993. The same is true of the extensive materiel holdings of the former Soviet Union in the new Länder.
112. As a contribution to the costs likely to be incurred by the WGF is a result of their continued presence in Germany, their return home and their reintegration into society (comprising a comprehensive housing Construction programme in the states of the former Soviet Union and retraining measures), the Soviet Union was promised a sum of twelve billion DM, spread over four years. This includes three billion DM for their continued presence and withdrawal, 7.8 billion DM for the construction of housing and 200 million DM for retraining measures, plus an interest-free loan of three billion DM. At the same time, procedural arrangements were made for dealing with questions relating to transfer roubles and real estate.
113. In the joint Declaration of 16 December 1992, the Federal Government promised the Russian side a further 550 million DM for the reintegration of the withdrawing troops. By providing such support for the reintegration of the Western Group of Forces, the Federal Government is making a major contribution to the stabilization of the social situation of the troops in the states of the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS) which will be receiving them upon their return.
The withdrawal of the Russian forces from Germany is a return home in dignity, it is of importance to the Federal Government that the Russian service personnel take home with them a positive image of Germany and that the contacts between the inhabitants of the two countries be fostered for a long time to come.
THE BUNDESWEHR IN THE UNIFICATION PROCESS
114. Right front the very beginning, the Bundeswehr has accomplished a great deal in bringing about the completion of internal German unity. Creating the "army of unity" is a unique challenge, one which is exceptionally difficult in human and organizational terms. Former adversaries have jointly assumed responsibility for the same tasks: to protect the united, democratic Germany and its allies mid to build up the Bundeswehr in the new Länder
115. The National People's Army (NPA), as a "socialist type of army", was an instrument of the communist state and a privileged organization of the SED. This party kept a check on every member of the NPA with the help of a dense network within the armed forces. Professional progress was only possible with SED support.
In 1990, after 35 years of existence, the authorized strength of the NPA was 175,000. It was a conscript army in which young men, who started to receive military education while they were still adolescents, served for 18 months in the land forces, air forces or People's Navy. The NPA serviceman was part of a system of readiness and mobilization with a very high reaction and attack capability, integrated into the centrally controlled Warsaw Pact.
In addition to the NPA, there were other "armed organs": the border troops, who operated primarily on the barriers and fortifications along the inner-German border, on both land and water; the military forces of the Ministry of State Security; and the Battle Groups of the Working Class.
116. In the late 1980s, there was a gradual internal collapse of the NPA. One of the reasons was the visible deterioration in the economic situation in the GDR starting in 1985. This meant, among other things, that servicemen had to be employed in industry, although the SED government did not reduce the high readiness requirements. The concomitant overtaxing of the NPA and the unconcealable weaknesses of the regime disconcerted military superiors and subordinates. Immediately after the opening of the Wall, attempts were therefore made to improve conditions within the armed forms and, at the same time, to initiate a change of political awareness reflecting actual developments: The NPA was to be democratically legitimized and cast off the odium of being an army of the Party. It was placed under the control of parliament, and all democratic parties and organizations were given equal opportunity to pursue political activities among servicemen and civilian employers. In addition, directives were issued that were designed to make life in the armed foxes easier. The efforts to set the NPA on a new course were overtaken by the events of the unification process. Moreover, the attempted reform was not feasible, for the NPA did not have the ability to familiarize its servicemen with the principles that characterize an army in a democracy. The signs of disintegration in the armed forces intensified.
117. Upon unification, there could only he one any in Germany, under the command of the Federal Minister of Defence as the Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The GDR Ministry of Disarmament and Defence was dissolved. When the unity of the German state took effect, the NPA ceased to exist. Its servicemen and civilian employees - but not the members of the other "armed organs" of the GDR - were provisionally taken over by the Bundeswehr. The NPA unit, were disbanded stop by step and new Bundeswehr units were raised comprising personnel from the Bundeswehr and the former NPA.
118. On 2 October 1990, about 90,000 servicemen (including around 50,000 regulars and temporary career volunteers) and 48,000 civilian employees of the NPA were still on the payroll. They were employed at about 1,500 units and agencies.
Generals, admirals and regulars over 55 years of age lead been dismissed by the last, freely elected government of the GDR. Political officers and members of the system of military justice were not taken over by the Bundeswehr. By the end of 1990, about 13,000 officers and 9,000 NCOs of the former NPA had left the armed forces at their own request. The remaining servicemen of the border troops and civil defence organization of the CDR were given temporary civilian status in the Burdeswehr (until 30 September 1991) and employed to dismantle the border barriers and fortifications.
119. About 12,000 officers, 12,000 NCOs and 1,000 other enlisted personnel applied for employment in the Bundeswehr. Most of the applicants wanted to be taken over as regular or temporary-career volunteers with an extended term of enlistment. 6,000 officers, 11,200 NCOs and 800 other enlisted personnel were appointed temporary-career volunteers, initially for a period of two years. With a view to their planned assignment, they were awarded a permanent Bundeswehr rank based on a comparison made between their previous training, tours of duty, occupational specialties and functions in the former NPA and corresponding careers in the Bundeswehr.
3,027 officers, 7,639 NCOs and 207 other enlisted personnel were selected for continuing employment as regulars or temporary-career volunteers with extended terms of enlistment. The personal suitability of the officers earmarked to become regulars was determined by the independent "Suitability Test Board" in accordance with the provisions of the Unification Treaty.
Extensive retraining and continuation training schemes in civilian professions were offered for servicemen leaving the former NPA. With the help of the Federal Armed Forces Vocational Advancement Service, over 12,000 former servicemen have gained qualifications for a new professional future. Retraining and continuation training are continuing in 1994.
120. When the former GDR acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990, about 48,000 civilian employees of the disbanded NPA were taken over by the Bundeswehr. In addition, there were about 2,000 former NPA servicemen who transferred to the Federal Defence Administration in the months that followed.
These were servicemen who were entrusted with administrative tasks as defined in Article 87 b of the Basic Law. Since there was no separation of armed forces and defence administration in the NPA, the personnel taken over had to be reallocated to the services of the Bundeswehr and to the Federal Defence Administration.
Since the vast majority of the units and agencies of the former NPA initially had to be kept in existence, almost all the civilian employees were able to retain their jobs. This number of personnel had to be adapted to the organizational structures of the defence administration and the armed forces. Former NPA personnel were given priority treatment when it came to filling the civilian posts.
121. Article 20, paragraph 2 of the Unification Treaty states that the exercise of public responsibilities is to be entrusted as soon as possible to professional civil servants. Of the approximately 2,300 civilian employees of the former NPA earmarked to become civil servants, about 2,000 have in the meantime been awarded civil servant status. Special boards determine whether the candidates have the professional ability to become civil servants and whether they have the qualifications for an appropriate career. The boards base their decisions on the candidates' history of employment in the former NPA and the activities they have subsequently performed in the Federal Defence Administration.
With the entry into force of the Collective Agreement for Salaried Employees of the Federal Government (East) and the General Agreement for Wage-Earners of the Federal Government (East), and the adoption of the collectively agreed regulations on salary and wage payments, the foundations have been laid for an alignment of the terms of employment in the public sector in the new Länder with the collective bargaining law applicable in the rest of Germany.
122. On 3 October 1990, the Bundeswehr took over extensive materiel from the holdings of the NPA and other, paramilitary organizations of the former GDR: almost 2,300 main battle tanks, just under 9,000 armoured combat and special-purpose vehicles, over 5,000 artillery, rocket and air defence systems, about 700 combat and transport aircraft plus helicopters, and 192 warships and other naval vessels. In addition, there were about 85,000 motor vehicles and trailers, over 1.2 million small arms, about 295,000 tonnes of ammunition and approximately 4,500 tonnes of liquid rocket fuel. Large quantities of spare parts, billeting equipment and housekeeping material, medical supplies, NBC protective equipment, training equipment and simulators, command, control and reconnaissance systems, communications equipment, engineer equipment and construction machines, plus a sizeable mount of clothing and individual equipment as well is miscellaneous materiel stockpiled for mobilization haw to be disposed of or destroyed.
123. Because all NPA units were disbanded, this legacy initially had to be concentrated at central sites and securely guarded. After the equipment had been categorized, appropriate disposal measures were taken. The bulk of the NPA's; major equipment will not be used any further, as the reduction of the Bundeswehr in the old Länder will release sufficient materiel to ensure that all units have the same equipment.
Within the framework of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, Germany has undertaken to destroy about 10,000 major weapon systems by 1995. It started doing so on 3 August 1992. The industrial disposal of ammunition is being carried out almost exclusively by firms in the new Länder and is making rapid progress. By the end of 1993, about 110,000 tonnes had been destroyed.
This has so far cost around 470 million DM and helped to secure 1,200 jobs.
Equipment that can be used for civilian purposes is also given to regional and local authorities in the new Länder and to relief organizations for humanitarian purposes in addition, certain items of equipment have been sold or given away free of charge by the Federal Government or on its behalf, taking care to comply with strict export regulations.
124. The material legacy of the NPA also included 2,285 military facilities such as barracks, troop billets, storage sites, training areas and installations, underground installations, dockyards and airfields. Almost three quarters of these facilities are no longer required by the Bundeswehr. They are being transferred to the Federal Property Offices.
Almost all the facilities of the former NPA were in a poor state of repair. At present-day prices, the cost of renovating and reconstructing the just under 600 facilities that will continue to be used will be at least 16.5 billion DM. This figure does not include cleaning up the legacy of environmental damage at training areas. As a first step, the Bundeswehr has spent a total of 1.8 billion DM on renovating billets. This provided a substantial financial boost to the construction industry in the new Länder Expenditure amounting to about 1 billion DM per year over the next few years will help to secure jobs. The diversion of funds to the East is taking place at the expense of the West. All these infrastructure investments by the Bundeswehr stand for the principle of overcoming division by sharing.
Materiel Legacy of the NPA
125. The Bundeswehr is using the land it has taken over in a responsible manner and is promoting environmental protection. Of the 62 military training areas in Eastern Germany, it is likely that only nine will continue to be used. The remaining training areas will also stimulate the economy in regions with a poor economic structure. The cost of cleaning up the legacy of environmental damage will run into hundreds of millions of DM at least. The moons will benefit from both.
126. The Bundeswehr was also entrusted with the task of dismantling the barriers and fortifications along the former inner-German border. This involved removing barrier systems along a length of 1,455 km, including 136 km of wall and 818 observation lowers and command Posts.
Since 1961, the border troops of the former GDR had laid about 1.4 million mines along about 660 km of the border; by 1985 these mines had been removed. However, an arithmetical difference of about 34,000 mines in tile clearing records meant that it was necessary to search for remaining mines in certain sectors of the border. This work is continuing in 1994.
The dismantling of the border barriers and fortifications and the clearing of mines were initially conducted under Bundeswehr supervision; in October 1991, however, a civilian company was awarded the contract. It was possible to conclude the dismantling of tile border barriers and fortifications in 1993.
ESTABLISHING THE BUNDESWEHR IN THE NEW LÄNDER
127. In order to build up the Bundeswehr in the new Länder, it was necessary to create a command and control organization which also had personnel of high quality, so as to gain the approval of the servicemen and population. Less than three months were available to prepare this historic task. Within a short time, it was necessary to gain a complete overview of the situation and solve complex problems associated with the build-up of uniform armed forces, including the defence administration. About 2,000 Bundeswehr officers and NCOs tackled this initial task. Numerous transitional arrangements had to be made. The classic "mission-type" command and control principle of German armed form passed a crucial test of its value.
128. To exercise command and control over the armed forces in the new Länder, Federal Armed Forces Eastern Command was created, with headquarters at Strausberg. The commander was responsible for:
* Exercising command and control over the land, air and naval forces existing in the new Länder at the time that full command authority was assumed;
* Disbanding the agencies and units that did not fit into the future force structure;
* Taking over and ensuring the safekeeping of the NPA materiel pending further use, destruction or any other form of disposal;
* Establishing the envisaged decentralized command and control organization;
* Supporting the withdrawal of Soviet foxes.
Subordinate to Federal Armed Forces Eastern Command were:
* Army Eastern Command, which subsequently became Eastern Corps and Territorial Command, with headquarters at Potsdam;
* Division and Military District Commands VII (HQ at Leipzig) and VIII (HQ at Neubrandenburg);
* 5th Air Division, with headquarters at Eggersdorf; this is now 3rd Air Division, with headquarters at Berlin-Gatow;
* Naval Command at Rostock,
* Liaison Detachment to the Soviet Forces, with headquarters at Berlin.
129. On 1 April 1991, responsibility for the units and agencies was transferred from the Commander, Federal Armed Forces Eastern Command, to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Federal Armed Forces, the Service Chiefs of Staff and the Surgeon General. This marked an important organizational step towards unity in the armed forces. On 30 June 1991, after successfully accomplishing its mission, the Federal Armed Forces Eastern Command was disbanded.
FEDERAL ARMED FORCES EASTERN COMMAND
2) Today: Eastern Corps and Territorial Command
3) Today: 3rd Air Division at Berlin-Gatow
130. The build-up of the troops is making progress. In the Army and Central Medical Agencies, it has almost been completed, after less than four years. The Air Force, Navy and Central Military Agencies in particular will relocate further units, agencies, schools and offices from garrisons in the west to new locations in the cast. The purpose, of these measures, which require major, additional investment in the military and social infrastructure, is to bring about an appropriate deployment of the Bundeswehr throughout Germany. The investment as well as a sizeable proportion of the operating costs will benefit, directly and indirectly, reconstruction in the new Länder.
131. Following German unification, work started on building up the defence administration in Eastern Germany. The Office of Defence Administration, Military District VII was established at Strausberg; it is responsible for Berlin and the new Länder. Subordinate to it are 19 garrison administrative offices, 26 selection and induction offices, a branch office of the Federal Office of Languages and several other agencies. This has resulted in the creation of new jobs for over 20,000 employees, most of them from the five new Länder.
132. The success achieved so far would not have been possible without the exemplary dedication shown by the military and civilian personnel of the Bundeswehr. Nor would it haw been possible without the loyal and conscientious cooperation of the members of the former NPA, including those who have since left the forces. Despite facing an uncertain future, they have made their contribution to building up the army of unity.
133. In 1993, the first former NPA officers attended the Federal Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Hamburg to gain the qualifications required for staff officer assignments.
The former isolation of the armed forces in Eastern Germany has been overcome, and cooperation with local government and Länder authorities, educational establishments and citizens is now a matter of course. In many places, the Bundeswehr is providing rapid, unconventional and effective help in building up the garrisons. Confidence in the Bundeswehr as the army of a democratic state is growing.
134. Universal conscription plays a key role here, a, young people from all Länder serving together in the armed forces promotes mutual understanding. At present, about 48,000 servicemen are serving in the Bundeswehr in the new Länder. They are learning, studying and putting into practice the command and control principles and finding out how to treat each other in an army of democracy. In doing so, they are experiencing what it is like to be a "citizen in uniform" and what practical application of the concept of innere Führung (leadership and civic education) means. These experiences provide them with knowledge and awareness of values and institutions of the constitutional state and contribute to the inner unity of Germany
Since July 1992, conscripts from the old Länder haw been called up to serve in the new Länder and vice versa. Since 1993, this exchange principle has also been applied to servicemen with extended terms of enlistment and civilian employees.
PLANNED RELOCATION OF UNITS AND AGENCIES TO THE EAST
- Elements of the Leaderships Development and Civic Education Centre
- Federal Armed Forces Institute of Social Sciences
135. From the outset, the Bundeswehr has been fully aware of the special challenge posed by the process of unification, and has acted accordingly: East-West integration has made rapid Progress in the Bundeswehr. Ideology-based differences have been overcome by open-mindedness, a willingness to learn and a genuine preparedness to cooperate. Servicemen in East and West know: We are all Germans and - we are one people.
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