BERLIN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Bundestag military commissioner Hans-Peter Bartels strongly criticized the state of the German Armed Forces on Tuesday.

Bartels attested problems with equipment, paralyzing administrative procedures as well as a historic low in the recruitment of new soldiers.

"The system of deficiency management continues in all areas," Bartels said. While the German army hired an additional 4,000 temporary and professional soldiers in 2018, the number of newly recruited soldiers had fallen by 3,000 to 20,000, "the lowest level in its history", Bartels added.

The lack of military equipment remained the biggest complaint of German soldiers. Basic equipment such as protective vests, boots and modern helmets could still not be supplied to "every soldier equally", said the commissioner, adding that the lack of equipment had become an "everyday occurrence."

Likewise, the situation regarding spare parts had not improved. Long waiting times for industrial repairs would have become common. Bartels proposed a "return to comprehensive spare parts stockpiling and a moderate return to own repair, in order to be less dependent on the "economic rationality of private companies".

With regards to international employment of the German army, Bartels criticized that German soldiers were often transported in civilian helicopters in Afghanistan, demanding that the soldiers "need their own German military protected helicopters".

Bartels was elected by the German parliament and is responsible for reviewing the state of the German Armed Forces. Enditem

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