In Germany too, the rise in the cost of energy unites discontent. Europe’s largest economy, which was 55% dependent on Russian gas before the invasion of Ukraine, is particularly exposed to the risk of energy shortages this winter, and soaring prices are straining households and businesses.
On social networks, viral tweets explain that “unrest is expected” in the country due to rising gas and electricity bills. And for this reason, “soldiers will patrol the streets from October 1”. Another version points out that Germany would like to set up “a military force controlled by NATO to control the riots”, and that this will happen “soon in France”.
A document is often mentioned to prove these statements: a statement of June 13, 2022 from the Bundeswehr, the German army. He announces the creation of a territorial command.
FAKE OFF
The creation – real – of this territorial command of the Bundeswehr will not be used to control the population. It is, in reality, a hierarchical reorganization within the army, which will come into force on October 1st. “We have many branches in the German army, explains to 20 minutes a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry. This new territorial command will be directly under the control of the Ministry of Defence”.
It must facilitate, for example, civil-military cooperation. “The purpose of this command is to obtain a very rapid reaction during disasters such as floods, forest fires, heavy snowstorms”, underlines the spokesman. It will also be responsible for providing support “in a crisis situation by providing reserve personnel”, he adds.
others fake news circulated in Germany or Poland based on this information, the Ministry of Defense tells us. The creation of this command was hijacked to assert that soldiers would be posted in front of supermarkets to avoid riots or that they would supervise the new vaccination campaign against Covid-19.
The intervention of the army is very framed by the Constitution
Which is really not possible. In Germany, the intervention of the army is very framed by the Constitution. Article 35, in particular, defines how the Lander can help each other. In the event of disasters, the various governments can call on the armed forces to come to their aid. “But they will be in support and will not have the role of leader”, specifies the spokesperson. The federal government can also call on the armed forces to assist the police “in the event of a natural disaster or disaster threatening the territory of more than one Land”.
“The legislation of our Constitution in Germany is really restricted and linked to our History, points out the spokesperson. The armed forces cannot intervene in internal affairs, with a few exceptions. The territorial command only has a supporting role”.
On October 1, the military will therefore not patrol the streets across the Rhine to control demonstrations. Maintaining order is the domain of the police. “It will not be the territorial command that will intervene in this case, because there is a clear and direct regulation of what we are authorized to do and what we are not authorized to do”, underlines the spokesperson of the ministry. .
“First contact” to provide logistical support to NATO forces
The territorial command will also be responsible for providing logistical support to the armed forces of NATO member countries, which could station or cross the country for the purposes of an exercise or in the event of a crisis. This is what is called, in the treaties of the Alliance, the support of the host country.
“If there is a crisis situation and troops have to deploy, they could go through Germany given its geographical location in Europe. This is why we are a logistics center for all NATO partners, explains the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense. If these troops need help to find space for their convoys, for maintenance, for fuel, the territorial command will be their first contact”.