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(Source: Wikimedia)
Germany is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. They have some of the best tanks in the world, and their weapons are deadly accurate and precise.
Germany has been a leader in tank technology for many years. Their Leopard tanks are some of the best in the world and are used by militaries all over the globe. Germany’s newest tank, the KF51 (Panther) will be one of the most advanced tanks currently in production. With its cutting-edge armor and powerful gun, it will rival anything made in the US.
In addition to its impressive tank fleet, Germany also has many artillery systems and anti-tank weapons. These weapons are designed to destroy enemy tanks before getting close enough to engage German forces. This makes Germany’s tank force very difficult to defeat in battle.
So the question remains, why are they not putting their full support to Ukraine? Last month, Lithuania’s foreign minister called Germany out for not moving fast enough.
“Tanks speak louder than words.”
In the eyes of many, especially on the nations part of NATO, Germany is not doing enough to help Ukraine, especially since they have one of the most stable economic and political powers in the world.
“If Germany would give to Ukraine proportionally what we have given to Ukraine, this war would be over,” Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks told Foreign Policy and a small group of American experts on a visit to Latvia organized by the German Marshall Fund think tank.
“Tanks speak louder than words,” said Pabriks.
“Who speaks at this moment about the so-called Franco-German’ engine of Europe’ anymore? Nobody really,” Pabriks said. “They portrayed themselves as having the moral high ground in the EU. But look at the butchery in Ukraine … and how little they have given comparatively.”
Their inaction has become a litmus test in this war, and even though they “pledged” to help, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said they have “a lot” to offer Ukraine. Just not battle tanks.
“We are supporting Ukraine,” Scholz told The New York Times. “We are doing it in a way that is not escalating to where it is becoming a war between Russia and NATO because this would be a catastrophe.”
This statement alone gained a lot of criticism, especially from Ukraine. Dmytro Kuleba said the decision was “disappointing,” especially since Russian attacks can be seen as genocide toward the Ukrainian populace.
Disappointing signals from Germany while Ukraine needs Leopards and Marders now — to liberate people and save them from genocide. Not a single rational argument on why these weapons can not be supplied, only abstract fears and excuses. What is Berlin afraid of that Kyiv is not?
Germany also implied that one of the reasons it is holding back its donation of tanks is because it could not afford to compromise its supplies in case they have to prepare for battle. However, as noted on WaPo, it was another “non sequitur” that the Germans were hiding behind. Furthermore, Kuleba says there is “not a single rational argument on why these weapons cannot be supplied, only abstract fears and excuses.”
So what are the tanks that Germany can donate but choose not to? Here is a partial list below:
Leopard I
TAM
Lince
Leopard 2
Spähpanzer SP IC
Spähpanzer Ru 251
Jaguar 1
Jaguar 2
Kanonenjagdpanzer
Raketenjagdpanzer 1
Raketenjagdpanzer 2
Sheridan (With missiles)
Panzerhaubitze 2000
VT1
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