Sold and taken away: Amherd sends tanks across the Rhine

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There has been discussion about this for a year now. The first discarded Leopard 2 battle tanks were transported from eastern Switzerland to Germany on Tuesday. The total of 25 tanks from Switzerland may not be forwarded to Ukraine.

The Federal Armaments Office (Armasuisse) handed over the first 9 of the 25 main battle tanks on Tuesday morning. According to the Ministry of Defense (VBS), they were transported to Germany by train.

The next train with another 9 tanks will roll towards Germany on Wednesday. The remaining 7 tanks will be exported via road transport. They go back to the German manufacturer Rheinmetall.

Tanks must fill gaps in Germany

The 25 Leos are among the 96 tanks that have been decommissioned by the Swiss army. A year ago, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (63) and business colleague Robert Habeck (54) officially asked Switzerland to buy back a number of these tanks, which have been stationed in eastern Switzerland for years. They are intended to replace tanks that Berlin supplied to Ukraine.

Parliament agreed to the condition that the battle tanks would not be transferred to Ukraine. After a long struggle, the Federal Council gave the green light at the end of November. Berlin guaranteed that the tanks would remain in Germany, with the NATO defense alliance or with EU partners.

Tanks don’t shoot

It initially raised eyebrows in parliament that the DDPS had only sold the tanks for a “low double-digit” sum of millions. However, the sales contract showed that the steel giants were anything but in good shape.

In addition to engine blocks or gun barrels, many also had the lifting gear covers, ejection tube or emergency exit hatches completely removed. In addition, most tanks that have been mothballed for a long time also suffer from mold. Germany will have to put a lot of money and work into the tanks to make them combat-ready again. (dba)

Source:Blick