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| Dr Peter Lieb |
Greetings from "On Bundeswehr: German military history beyond Hitler" in the War Studies Seminar Series at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University. Dr Peter Lieb, department ‘Military History after 1945’ at the Centre for Military History and Social Sciences of the German Armed Forces, introduced the generals who formed the core of the post WWII West German army. Some had questionable pasts, but the nation needed someone to command. These generals went from prisoners to accused of war crimes, to having to take low paid jobs, before being appointed to senior positions during the cold war. Dr Lieb argues the German army had fewer former Nazis than other state institutions as it was a relatively small force, so could choose carefully.
Dr Markus Pöhlmann, Senior Researcher and Head of Department ‘Expeditionary Operations’ at the Centre for Military History and Social Sciences of the German Armed Forces leapt decades to an account of German operations ending in Afghanistan. Germany had more than 5,000 personnel deployed with more than 50 killed. The German embassy was evacuated as Taliban arrived in Kabul. Germany set task force to aid evacuation of German government personnel, later expanded to include German civilians*, and then locals at risk if retribution. Solders at the gates to the airport had to decide who to admit. As well as military in Afghanistan, Germany had personnel in Tashkent. German forces securing the airport of a foreign country was unusual. Dr Markus argues that the withdrawal deserves further study.
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* As it happens I took a class at Australian Defence Staff College on how to carry out such an evacuation, along with diplomatic staff and military.
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