Major General Carsten Breuer is set to become the new Inspector General of the German Armed Forces. He previously led the anti-crisis headquarters at the Federal Chancellery’s Office, a role that focused on coordinating the national response to the coronavirus outbreak. This appointment has been reported by German media and cited by agencies such as TASS.
Breuer will succeed Eberhard Zorn, who has served as Inspector General since April 2018. The transition marks a significant shift in the highest echelons of Germanys defense leadership as the country recalibrates its military oversight and strategic planning for the coming years.
Following the pandemic, Breuer took command of the Bundeswehr Regional Command, a newly established unit charged with operational control over the German Armed Forces to defend the nation. The Regional Command is tasked with mitigating the consequences of emergencies, countering hybrid threats, and facilitating effective collaboration between the Bundeswehr and civilian government entities. It also coordinates the movement and deployment of German military units within the country to respond to domestic needs and crises.
As Inspector General, Breuer will be part of the leadership team within the German Ministry of Defense and will serve as a senior military adviser to the federal government. His role will involve advising on defense policy, readiness, and strategic planning in a period of evolving security challenges for Europe and North America.
The leadership shake-up came amid a broader decision by Germanys Defense Minister to reform the ministry’s top ranks. The changes aim to streamline the command structure, improve coordination across agencies, and reinforce the defense department’s capacity to address both conventional and nontraditional threats. This reforms are part of ongoing efforts to modernize Germanys security apparatus in response to shifting international dynamics.
In the course of these developments, it was noted that Eberhard Zorns departure relates to assessments of Russian actions in Ukraine. Zorn’s dismissal reflects the government’s emphasis on clear accountability and the evaluation of strategic decisions in the context of the conflict and its broader implications for European security.