Last year, we reported for the first time on the establishment of so-called "homeland security regiments" of the German Armed Forces.These "homeland security regiments" are military units that consist mainly of reservists and previously undrafted civilians and receive military training and tasks from the German Armed Forces in their "free time". This means that the units are primarily made up of people who have normal jobs in civilian life. The tasks of a so-called homeland security regiment are primarily associated in the bourgeois media with internal catastrophes such as natural disasters or pandemics. However, in our last article on this topic, we were able to show that there is much more behind the military propaganda of a "friend and helper in soldier's uniform".

These nationwide newly founded units serve much more the purpose of anchoring the imperialist armed forces of the FRG even more deeply in the population and thus promoting the militarization of society as a whole. For example, when the neighbor or baker around the corner suddenly takes on military tasks in uniform. And the specific tasks go far beyond carrying sandbags in the event of flood disasters. Rather, they are part of the general restructuring and reorganization of the Bundeswehr in the rearmament and militarization initiative proclaimed by German imperialism as the "turn of an era" since the war of aggression by Russian imperialism against Ukraine. Brigadier General Meyerhoff from North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, described the tasks of the local homeland security regiments when they were formed as follows: "If the worst comes to the worst, the "securing of defense-critical infrastructure" - i.e. ports, bridges or railroad facilities. In addition, there is the "surveillance of areas" and support when NATO forces are transported through Germany."

In Hessen, Lieutenant Colonel Engel has now given the public news portal "Hessenschau" an insight into the efforts to set up such a homeland security regiment in 2024. The military officer explains that Hessen, with 2150 applicants for a position in the homeland security regiment, clearly leads the list of applicants in a national comparison of the federal states. In comparison, there are "only" 800 to 1000 applicants in Bavaria or NRW, for example, despite higher population figures. One reason for this high number of applicants is said to be a pilot project tested for the first time in Hessen, in which the search for applicants was carried out in cooperation with labor buyers and the Hessen Chamber of Economy, as well as direct marketing based on data analysis. Militarization in its purest form, economy and labour market together with digitalization all in the service of developing the Bundeswehr. Brigadier General Stöckmann proudly summarizes that these experiences could also be applied to any other federal state. Like his counterpart in North Rhine-Westphalia, the brigadier general goes on to describe the possible areas of responsibility of the armed part-time soldiers in very vague terms: "The homeland security forces could be deployed in the event of natural disasters and pandemics, for example, but also in cases of "tension" when securing barracks and airports. If necessary, they would also have to be prepared to defend Germany "with weapon in hand". Suddenly, there is not much left of humanitarian aid in the event of a disaster in this rhetoric; instead, "cases of tension" in securing barracks and airports are described, which sound more like the homeland security regiments should be deployed in the event of demonstrations, insurrections or armed conflicts on German territory.

But this is not the only development in the build-up of Bundeswehr capacities in Hessen. This year, the federal state will receive over 20 new H145M light combat helicopters.A total of 2.63 billion euros from the Bundeswehr's special fund has been approved by the Bundestag's Budget Committee. When deployed, the combat helicopter will primarily be used to provide security for armored land units. For this purpose, it is equipped with heavy machine guns and laser-guided missiles. The helicopter, which has a range of 600 kilometers, will also be used to deploy troops, such as special forces. It is very clear to see that German imperialism is preparing for new wars, both at home and abroad.

 Source of the cover image: https://www.hessenschau.de/gesellschaft/bundeswehr-regiment-in-fritzlar-bekommt-mehr-als-20-neue-kampfhubschrauber-v1,bundeswehr-hubschrauber-fritzlar-100.html