Berlin, 27 January 2023 (GNP): They can make a huge difference, it claims, making all the difference in forcing Russia off Ukrainian soil and giving Kyiv the upper hand.
The Leopard 2s, which make up the majority of contemporary heavy tanks in Europe, are made in Germany. They number about 2,000 and are dispersed among the European allies. And Germany is the sole owner of all of its export permits.
This meant that while it hesitated, others, like Poland, who were eager to send tanks to Ukraine right away, were unable to do so. They lacked Berlin’s green re-export light. Of course, the vehicles still require training for Ukrainian soldiers to operate, and it is unknown how many or when they would arrive for service in Ukraine.
But when Russia repeatedly violated human rights in Ukraine, Berlin’s protracted hesitation created enormous strain among Western allies who, up until this point, had been eager to show a determined sense of solidarity in the face of Russian aggression.
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Because of the uncertainty he displayed, Chancellor Scholz’s government coalition and even his own Social Democrat Party were split. At frequent protests held in front of the German parliament, the cry was “Free the Leopards!” while within, the discussion over whether or not to send tanks raged among German MPs.
Holocaust Memorial Day is on this Friday. At the Berlin Reichstag, a huge placard reading “We Will Not Forget” is displayed.
Many Germans are hesitant to be Ukraine’s primary battle tank supplier because they were the aggressor in the first two world wars.
Significantly important is the “Zeitenwende” or “turning moment” in Germany, which was declared by Chancellor Scholz shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. both for Germany specifically and for all of Europe.
Berlin pledged to significantly increase investment in its aging, underfunded military and to play a much more assertive role in European defense. a genuine departure from Berlin’s reluctance and preference for allies to take the lead in security concerns after World War Two.
Berlin has been reluctant to assume leadership since World War Two, despite the fact that allies frequently look to Germany to do so as Europe’s largest economy.
Returning to the tank discussion, Germany must also get past the sensitivity of the possibility that Russian soldiers might be attacked by its Leopard 2 tanks.
For the mass murder of millions of Russians during World Wars One and Two, Germany bears heavy guilt.
Another unrelated issue is that significant portions of German society, notably in the previously communist east of the country, feel historically linked to Russia and frequently express dissatisfaction with how western culture operates.
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However, the vast majority of Germans share the sympathies of common Ukrainians embroiled in the current conflict.
But in a survey conducted just before Christmas, 40% of German respondents said they recognized the Kremlin’s accusation that the West was to blame for its invasion of Ukraine because of the Nato military alliance’s eastward expansion.
Although Olaf Scholz is an outspoken transatlantic, his SPD party historically has looked east to Moscow and many of its members are wary of the US and its hegemonic role in NATO.
Chancellor Scholz didn’t want Germany to do it alone or serve as the main facilitator on the front for sending battle tanks to Ukraine for all of these reasons, as well as a few more that I’ll list.
Another German concern is that while other European nations like the UK, Poland, and the Netherlands claim that it is obvious that the Kremlin is escalating this conflict, many Germans express concern that sending heavy tanks and other offensive weapons to Ukraine might push Vladimir Putin to even more extreme measures. even using nuclear weapons.
One of the reasons Chancellor Scholz has lobbied so hard for Washington to send tanks to Ukraine is reportedly so that Europe can feel the support of the nuclear-armed US.
In general, Olaf Scholz did not want Germany to be the sole supplier of heavy tanks to Ukraine. He may have abruptly changed course because he realized that by keeping those tanks in reserve, he risked alienating his own supporters.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Germany is among the top three single suppliers of military aid and one of the main sources of humanitarian help to Ukraine, notwithstanding the recent and past controversy over Chancellor Scholz’s inaction in facilitating the transfer of other military equipment.