Germany and weapons of mass destruction
Although
Germany is among the powers which possess the ability to create nuclear weapons, but has agreed not to do so under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Two Plus Four Treaty. Along with most other industrial nations, Germany produces components that can be used for creating deadly agents, chemical weapons, and other WMD. Alongside other companies from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, India, the United States, Belgium, Spain, and Brazil, German companies provided Iraq with precursors of chemical agents used by Iraq to engage in chemical warfare during the Iran–Iraq War.[2]
History
World War I
One of the major combatants in World War I, Germany was the first to develop and use
The use of chemical weapons in warfare during the Great War was allegedly in violation of clause IV.2 'Declaration concerning the Prohibition of the Use of Projectiles with the Sole Object to Spread Asphyxiating Poisonous Gases' of the
World War II
During World War II, Germany conducted an
During the war, Germany stockpiled tabun, sarin, and soman but refrained from their use on the battlefield. In total, Germany produced about 78,000 tons of chemical weapons.[5] By 1945 the nation had produced about 12,000 tons of tabun and 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of sarin.[5] Delivery systems for the nerve agents included 105 mm and 150 mm artillery shells, a 250 kg bomb and a 150 mm rocket.[5] Even when the Soviet army neared Berlin, Adolf Hitler decided not to use tabun in a last ditch effort against the Soviets. The use of tabun was opposed by Hitler's Minister of Armaments, Albert Speer, who, in 1943, brought IG Farben's nerve agent expert Otto Ambros to report to Hitler. He informed Hitler that the Allies had stopped publication of research into organophosphates (a type of organic compound that encompasses nerve agents) at the beginning of the war, that the essential nature of nerve gases had been published as early as the turn of the century, and that he believed that Allies could not have failed to produce agents like tabun. This was not in fact the case, but Hitler accepted Ambros's deduction, and Germany's tabun arsenal remained unused.[6]
Cold War and beyond
As part of the accession negotiations of West Germany to the
In 1957 the
Germany ratified the
Before
The United States provides about 60 tactical
- "... not to receive the transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or of control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly ... or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices ...".
The U.S. insists its forces control the weapons and that no transfer of the nuclear bombs or control over them is intended "unless and until a decision were made to go to war, at which the [NPT] treaty would no longer be controlling", so there is no breach of the NPT. However German pilots and other staff practise handling and delivering the U.S. nuclear bombs.[10] Even if the NATO argument is considered legally correct, such peacetime operations could arguably contravene both the objective and the spirit of the NPT.
In 2007, former German defence secretary Rupert Scholz stated that Germany should strive to become a nuclear power.[11] In September 2007 the French president Nicolas Sarkozy offered Germany the opportunity to participate in control over the French nuclear arsenal.[12] Chancellor Merkel and foreign minister Steinmeier declined the offer however, stating that Germany "had no interest in possessing nuclear weapons".[13] Due to concerns over Vladimir Putin's actions, Merkel reversed her position, stating to the German press, "As long as there are nuclear weapons in the world, we need to have these capabilities, as NATO says."[14]
NATO member states, including Germany, decided not to sign the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a binding agreement for negotiations for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, supported by more than 120 nations.[15]
German economist and politician Tobias Lindner called Germany's nuclear sharing agreement "an expensive, dangerous and antiquated symbolic contribution to have a say within NATO."[16]
In October 2021, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer had talked about the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons against Russia.[17] She noted that nuclear weapons are a "means of deterrence."[18]
In regards to the relationship with the United States, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agrees with a longstanding agreement that allows American tactical nuclear weapons to be stored and manned on American bases in Germany.[19][20] In November 2021 Rolf Mützenich claimed, that he wants to move NATO B61 nuclear bomb out of Germany.[21]
See also
- German nuclear weapon project
- Nuclear sharing
Further reading
- Kühn, Ulrich (ed.). 2024. Germany and Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century: Atomic Zeitenwende? Routledge.
References
- ^ US set to upgrade controversial nukes stationed in Germany
- ^ Al Isa, I. K. (1-12-2003) Fresh information on the Iraqi chemical program; Iraqi money and German brains cooperated in building chemical weapons. Al Zaman, London. Federation of atomic scientists. Referenced 21-11-2006.
- ISBN 0-3168-3400-9. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ISBN 0-2959-8296-9. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, accessed 4 January 2009.
- ISBN 0-8129-6653-8pp.82–84.
- ^ "Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz". War Weapons Control Act (last modified 11 October 2002).
- ^ Die Erinnerungen, Franz Josef Strauss – Berlin 1989, p. 314
- ^ Germany, the NPT, and the European Option (WISE/NIRS Nuclear Monitor)
- ^ Nassauer, O. (2001) Nuclear sharing: is it legal?
- ^ Tagesspiegel: Ex-Minister: Atomwaffen für Deutschland 27 January 2007 (in German)
- ^ Beste, Ralf; Simons, Stefan (17 September 2007). "Thanks but No Thanks – Sarko's Nuke Offer Bombs with Berlin". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ Spiegel Online International
- ^ Deutsche Presse-Agentur, "Merkel Shifts Stance to Say NATO Must Keep Nuclear Defence," 22 October 2010
- ^ "122 countries adopt 'historic' UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons". CBC News. 7 July 2017.
- ^ "US set to upgrade controversial nukes stationed in Germany". Deutsche Welle. 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Germans clash over nuclear deterrence against Russia". Euractiv. 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Russia summons German military attache over comments on nuclear deterrence - RIA". Reuters. 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Incoming German government commits to NATO nuclear deterrent". Defense News. 24 November 2021.
- ^ Dettmer, Jamie (7 December 2021). "Washington Hopeful of Close Relations With Germany's Scholz". Voice of America.
- ^ Stelzenmüller, Constanze (19 November 2021). "Nuclear weapons debate in Germany touches a raw NATO nerve". Brookings. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
External links
- Army equipment
- Navy equipment
- Air Force equipment
- Command and obedience in the Bundeswehr
- Bundeswehr rank insignia