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More specifically, the radicals, according to Kramp-Karrenbauer, were won by one of the German special forces, known as the acronym KSK. Other companies were ordered to clean up in October, and KSK will not be able to participate in international military exercises or missions at this time.
“In its current form, the KSK cannot continue to operate,” said the minister, who spoke at press conferences about “unhealthy elitism” and “poisonous leadership,” as well as the fact that “extremist tendencies have developed and strengthened in the company “.
The changes are announced six weeks after the day investigators discovered Nazi memorabilia and plenty of ammunition and explosives stolen from the home of a sergeant major who had served at KSK since 2001.
Reuters / Photo by Scanpix / Members of the German Special Forces (KSK)
Where have many weapons and explosives gone?
This KSK company was embroiled in a scandal three years ago when the public learned of a large group of soldiers, during which they wasted Nazi salutes, listened to neo-Nazi rock music, and shook the heads of the pigs.
According to Kramp-Karrenbauer, the raid a month and a half ago showed that a new quality of far-right extremism had emerged in the German army. A series of new initiatives to combat radicals in the armed forces immediately spilled over.
For example, a special committee was formed to record manifestations of neo-Nazism in the special forces and to suggest ways to eradicate extremism. From now on, it will be easier to fire extremist soldiers.
KSK management cannot explain why there is a shortage of approximately 48,000 in these forces’ arsenal. ammunition and 62 kg of explosives.
Perhaps most importantly, according to surveyors, both the KSK and other groups in the German army will have to explain where many of the weapons and ammunition have disappeared.
The Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, General Eberhard Zorn, revealed this week that the KSK leadership cannot explain why there is a shortage of approximately 48,000 soldiers in the arsenal of these forces. ammunition and 62 kg of explosives.
According to E. Zorn and other specialists, these figures probably testify that such an incursion only showed the top of the iceberg.
AFP / Scanpix Photo / Eberhard Zorn
“Those explosives were used during special KSK missions abroad, to blow up the facades of buildings. This is not a trifle. I am very concerned,” said the inspector general.
Terrorist networks in the military?
Concerned for others. Patrick Sensburg, chairman of the Reserves Association and member of the Bundestag Intelligence Oversight Committee, asks: “Are there terrorist bodies in our army? I never thought I would have to ask that, but I have to ask.”
The head of the KSK, General Markus Kreitmayr, wrote a public letter to his soldiers after the raid and addressed directly to the alleged neo-Nazis: “You don’t deserve our society! Leave the forces for yourself. If you don’t, you we will find and get rid of you! “
Kramp-Karrenbauer says the ministry and the Bundeswehr are now trying to find out if individual extremism cases fail to testify to the existence of a radical network in the military.
AFP / Scanpix photo / Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
“It is probably not about individual cases, it is about communication and networking. All this needs to be thoroughly investigated,” says the Minister, who wants to monitor KSK activities more closely.
From now on, the special forces will not organize separate exercises, but joint exercises with other units. Also, newcomers will be screened and soldiers will only be able to serve in a particular company for a certain period of time and no more.
Up to 600 soldiers are being investigated on suspicion of extremism. Only 20 of them belong to KSK, where they serve a total of 1.4 thousand people. soldiers
In his report to the Minister, E. Zornas writes that some KSK soldiers operate independently and outside of the armed forces. But Kramp-Karrenbauer acknowledged that there were problems not only in these elite units, but also in the disappearance of weapons or explosives elsewhere.
Christopher Gram, head of military counterintelligence, has just reported that up to 600 soldiers are under investigation for suspected extremism. Only 20 of them belong to KSK, where they serve a total of 1.4 thousand people. soldiers
“There are certain cultural factors in such elite units that can become risky.” These soldiers have a misunderstanding about tolerance and are characterized by elitist self-confidence, “said Chram.
In 2021, KSK will celebrate its 25th anniversary. It is hoped that by then the special forces have been able to clean up. Bundestag Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Högl said: “The KSK must be our elite for freedom and democracy.”
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