Three Years of Zeitenwende. An Analysis of Changes in German Security and Defence Policy after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022–2025)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyse the changes in Germany’s security and defence policy following Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s speech to the Bundestag on 27 February 2022, in which he declared Zeitenwende (English for ‘historical turning point’). The declaration included a wide-ranging transformation of German policy, with a particular focus on increased funding for the Bundeswehr and support for a defending Ukraine. The article analyses the changes taking place in the Bundeswehr in political, social and financial terms, and assesses the effectiveness of the reforms and their impact on the combat readiness of the armed forces. The main research question addressed the reform process of the Bundeswehr after the announcement of Zeitenwende and the consequences of these changes for its operational capabilities. The study used the process tracing method supported by content analysis, which made it possible to reconstruct the situation preceding the reforms and to assess their effects.