History sees sharp turn: 1st time since WWII, German troops to station in France; France to withdraw from Germany

(quote)

German troops to be stationed in France

11.27.2008

German soldiers are set to be deployed on French soil for the first time since the end of World War II in 1945, the two countries decided this week. President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on the deal during a meeting in Paris earlier this week, government spokesman Thomas Steg told a press conference on Wednesday in Berlin.

The two countries share a joint army brigade of some 5,000 soldiers - 2,800 of which are German. Until now, they have been stationed only in south west Germany. "Germany has agreed in principle to transfer members of the Franco-German Brigade to France, that includes German troops," Steg said, calling the move "highly symbolic and historically significant".

A handful of German officers are already based in Strasbourg, east France, directly engaged with the NATO mission Eurocorps. However, no German military unit has been stationed in the country since the end of hostilities in World War II.

The Franco-German Brigade was set up in 1989 by the then French President Francois Mitterand and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to increase military cooperation between the two countries. Steg added that both Merkel and Sarkozy believe the joint initiative should be kept going. The country's defence ministers are set to meet next year to thrash out a clear plan for the brigade's future.

Sarkozy's Reforms Could See French Troops Leave Germany

06.07.2008

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a wide-scale reform of the French military in June. His extensive plans could drastically reduce the number of troops in Germany. Sarkozy said that the reforms would include the reduction of the 320,000-strong armed forces by around 54,000 mostly non-combat personnel, the redeployment of remaining troops and the construction of new military bases.

The president also laid out plans to invest more of the defense budget in satellites, airborne drones and other high-tech surveillance equipment. Sarkozy added that the new investment will come from cuts to the armed forces and closures of dozens of garrisons, army bases and military facilities across France and beyond. This is expected to mean a reduction or complete withdrawal of French troops from Germany. France has between 2,800 and 4,000 soldiers stationed in the country.

Sarkozy's plans would also endanger the future of the joint Franco-German brigade formed in 1987. There are some 5,400 French and German soldiers serving in the brigade, based in several southwest German towns. The brigade is also part of the Strasbourg-based Euro Corps which includes also soldiers from other European Union countries.

French redeployment could threaten Euro Corps. It would also mean the end of an era which started with the occupation of Germany after World War II. France was among the three Western powers which were given zones to control militarily after the end of the war.

“Vive l’amitié franco-allemande!”

03.05.2007

Jacques Chirac's last official trip as French President brought him to Berlin on Thursday. Along with Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chirac expressed his pleasure that the friendship between the two countries had blossomed so well. It was this reconciliation of the former enemies that made possible the process of European unification, they both pointed out.
The Chancellor thanked the French President most warmly for twelve years of excellent cooperation with Germany.

"Your politics were based on the belief that Franco-German reconciliation, in the wake of the Second World War, was the precondition for the unification of Europe," said Merkel at the close of Chirac's visit. Without this reconciliation of the erstwhile enemies, German reunification would also have been impossible.

"Long live Franco-German friendship," called the Chancellor to the President and invited guests in the Court of Honour of the Federal Chancellery, in French and in German.

Photos courtesy of The Local, NATO, Sean Gallup/Getty Images, and Deutsche Welle

Original Source: The Local, Deutsche Welle and bundesregierung.de