The policy of Germany in military sphere: drift from the concept of “strategic restraint”?

Abstract

As the key aggressor in World War II, Germany has to indefinitely comply with a set of stern restrictions considering the development and use of the national military potential. FRG’s attitude towards the principle until the early 2020s is studied. Key attention is paid to the cases where Germany abandoned the restrictions which had been limiting the realization of its ambitions as a world power. “Russian (Soviet) threat” has become the main pretext (but not the reason) for FRG’s remilitarization. However, in such cases Germany has ignored its own historic responsibility to the USSR and the Russian Federation. The framework conditions of the Bundeswehr development, outlined by Konrad Adenauer, are considered. The direction of the remilitarization (since the end of 2010s), as well as the features of Bundeswehr usage inside and outside the NATO zone of responsibility, are studied. It is concluded that the majority of these measures show the drift away from the “strategic restraint” concept.