Armeen im Griff der Konzerne (2018)

The armed forces are under pressure - in Germany as well as in France. Both armies are challenged, as they have not been for decades, by foreign deployments from Afghanistan to North Africa. At the same time, the French army - like the German Bundeswehr - is struggling with financial problems, poor material and a shortage of personnel. Outsourcing and cooperation with civilian companies promise favorable prices and quick solutions. In foreign missions, from reconnaissance drones to laundry, nothing can be done without private companies. For example, it is an armaments company that operates the GÜZ, Germany's most important military training center. In addition, our politicians and military leaders are committed to arms exports all over the world in order to maintain the domestic arms industries. Former ministers switch to arms companies as lobbyists. And those who buy weapons from France or Germany also receive training from the respective army. External companies have long since been supplying not only equipment for the armed forces, but also know-how and personnel. How much outsourcing can the state monopoly on the use of force tolerate, and what does that mean for the democratic control of military actions? Our authors had access to the French army and the Bundeswehr, were able to film during exercises and foreign deployments such as in Afghanistan, and confront those responsible from politics, the army and industry with their research. The investigative documentary reveals how far privatization has already progressed, how close the links to the arms industry are and what fatal consequences these entanglements could have in the future.