The German Navy has undergone many changes in recent years. Very much in the forefront of Cold War naval operations, the fleet suffered significantly from the ‘peace dividend’ that followed the Soviet Union’s collapse, shrinking to around a third of its former size. Considerable effort had also to be expended incorporating the former East German Volksmarine into its ranks during this time.
This period of change was accompanied by a significant shift in overall mission focus. The newly renamed Deutsche Marine essentially switched its emphasis from east-west confrontation in neighbouring seas to supporting peacekeeping and humanitarian missions across the globe. This required quite a different type of navy than before.
With recent Russian aggression changing the strategic environment again, the German Navy is facing a new set of challenges. The new political backdrop has re-emphasised the importance of ensuring the maritime securityand potentially Sweden – into the NATO alliance has also opened up new opportunities for collaboration.
