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| Europe |
| German Army marches into France...again |
| 2010-12-14 |
| For the first time since World War II (and over four years of German occupation), a German combat unit has been stationed in France. The German 291st Infantry Battalion, part of the 6,000 strong Franco-German brigade has moved into a base in eastern France. The Franco-German brigade was set up at the end of the Cold War, in 1987, as a symbol of growing French-German unity, and dedication to mutual defense. But until now, none of the German units were ever based in France. French units were often based in Germany, which was not unique. At the end of World War II in 1945, French units occupied part of Germany until the 1955. The Franco-German brigade now part of a more recent multi-national military organization; Euro Corps (founded in 1992). Meanwhile, German troops stationed in France is a big deal, as France still has bad memories of German occupation in 1940-44, 1914-18 and 1870-71. Meanwhile, EU nations are becoming more aware of their military limitations and liabilities. When called on to send peacekeepers to Afghanistan, many European states found that their armed forces were more uniformed civil servants than combat ready troops. The waste and duplication in the military is becoming more of a scandal, and making multinational forces a more attractive way to go. |
| Posted by:gromky |
| #2 Me-ow, OS. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-12-14 19:51 |
| #1 I think the French will accommodate the German Army well - its not like they have not had experience doing that. After all, there is the old saying: Why is the Champs-Élysées lined with trees? Because the German Army prefers to march in the shade. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2010-12-14 14:56 |