Conversion Technologies and the Civilian Use of Demilitarised Material

Abstract

Upon reunification, the Federal Republic of Germany took over from the now-defunct National People’s Army (NVA) of the former East Germany approximately 300,000 tons of ammunition as well as huge quantities of materiel, including 446 combat aircraft, 2,398 tanks, 7,620 armoured vehicles, and 1.2 million portable firearms. The high command of the German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, decided to classify the existing materiel into three categories according to its future use or disposal. Category 1 materiel was to be utilized on a long-term or limited basis by the Bundeswehr. These items included 24 Mig 29 combat aircraft and 892 BMP-1 armoured personnel carriers. Materiel for which decisions on further utilization was put off until a later date, including 49 MI 24 helicopter gunships, was assigned to Category 2. Category 3 material was not to be used by the Bundeswehr any longer, but disposed of as quickly as possible. This category included all other combat aircraft, armoured personnel carriers, guns, ships, missile systems, and more.