The Size of the German Army
The German army, or Bundeswehr, is the unified armed forces of Germany and their active personnel currently stands at roughly 183,000. The size of the German army is limited by a clause in the Treaty of Versailles which was signed after World War I. This clause limits the size of the German army to no more than 100,000 soldiers.
Limitations on the German Army
In addition to this limitation on personnel numbers, there are also restrictions on what types of weapons and equipment can be used by the German army. These restrictions include a ban on nuclear weapons, as well as a ban on certain types of heavy weaponry such as tanks and artillery. Furthermore, Germany is not allowed to have an air force or navy.
Recent Changes to the Size of the German Army
Despite these limitations, recent years have seen an increase in the size of the German army. In 2011, Germany announced plans to increase its military personnel from 180,000 to 220,000 by 2021. This increase was largely due to increased tensions between Russia and Europe following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
However, despite this increase in personnel numbers, it is unlikely that Germany will ever reach its full potential due to the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. As such, it is likely that the size of the German army will remain limited for many years to come.