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BONN, Germany — Germany will increase the responsibilities of its reserves, part of a wider transformation scheme now being implemented to modernize the Bundeswehr.
A new territorial reserve will be created with the principal aim of relieving active forces in homeland defense duties. The new structure will include existing reserve-based liaison commands at county and district level, as well as new regional security and support forces.
Lt. Gen. Gunter Weiler, the officer responsible for the reorganization plan, said the abandonment of mandatory conscription triggered the need to rethink the role of reserve forces. Besides homeland security, reservists will continue to complement and strengthen military units across the Bundeswehr and the Defense Ministry.
Reservists will be used to fill personnel gaps in standing forces or deploy as entire formations.
