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rfmcdonaldThe Deutsche Welle article "How Two Armies Became One", examining how the East German NVA was absorbed into the ranks of the Bundeswehr after reunification, ended on an interesting note.
This is a familiar story. Back in February 2004, I took note of the fact that although Atlantic Canada makes up 8% of the Canadian population, it provides 22% of the Canadian Forces' recruits. I understand that, in the United States, the South plays a similar role. I wonder about southern Italians in Italy's own military, and residents of Poland B in Poland's.
Fifteen years after the merger of the Bundeswehr with the NVA, the newest recruits from both halves of the country are less curious about just how much effort it took to remold the army. Of more interest is the fact that, like on the private labor market, soldiers are paid less in the East than in the West. Nevertheless, more and more young men and women from the East are joining the Bundeswehr.
"We (the army) have a relative high amount of recruits coming from the East. These ambitious young officers are of course involved in the missions abroad," said Digutsch. "I am certain that of these young people, a few will make it up into the upper ranks."
This is a familiar story. Back in February 2004, I took note of the fact that although Atlantic Canada makes up 8% of the Canadian population, it provides 22% of the Canadian Forces' recruits. I understand that, in the United States, the South plays a similar role. I wonder about southern Italians in Italy's own military, and residents of Poland B in Poland's.
