German Troops In Afghanistan: Berlin's Balancing Act

German troops were present in Afghanistan for almost two decades, from 2002 until 2021. The German military presence in Afghanistan was part of NATO's Resolute Support mission, which aimed to stabilise the country and combat the Taliban. Germany had the second-largest contingent of troops in Afghanistan, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the course of the mission.

The German military presence in Afghanistan was not without controversy. 59 German soldiers died in Afghanistan, 35 of them in combat or as a result of militant attacks. This made the Afghanistan mission Germany's deadliest military mission since World War II.

In June 2021, Germany completed the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan. The German Defence Minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, acknowledged that the mission had been intense [and] challenging and stated that it marked the end of a historic chapter.

German troops were involved in a handful of firefights with Taliban militants

In 2009, German troops were increasingly threatened by insurgent activities in the Faryab province and the surrounding districts. With casualties rising, the German leadership revised the rules of engagement for its troops. The German military began conducting joint operations with Afghan security forces in accordance with the "Afghan-face" strategy of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). By 2009, there were three major hotspots: the insurgency of the Taliban in Kunduz' Char Dara district, the presence of armed militants in Baghlan province, and the militants' activities in Faryab province.

In October 2012, German soldiers on patrol were ambushed by Taliban fighters, and 12 Taliban fighters were killed during the contact.

In June 2021, Germany completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending its nearly 20-year mission in the country. Over the years, Germany had the second-largest contingent of troops in Afghanistan after the United States, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed, many of whom served more than one tour.

The German military began joint operations with Afghan security forces

The German military's involvement in Afghanistan began in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. It was the country's first combat mission since World War II.

In April 2009, the German military began joint operations with Afghan security forces, marking a shift from their previous peacekeeping role. This shift was in accordance with the "Afghan-face" strategy of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The German military continued to conduct its own operations to improve security and supported allies in their struggle against the Taliban.

One notable joint operation was Operation Halmazag, which took place from October 31 to November 4, 2010, in the province of Kunduz. The goal was to build a permanent outpost near the village of Quatliam in the Char Dara district, located southwest of Kunduz. This operation was the first German military ground offensive since World War II. During this operation, German and Afghan forces faced attacks from insurgents, who used small arms and antitank weapons. Despite the intense fighting, the joint forces were successful in establishing the checkpoint on the "Little Pluto" road.

The German military's joint operations with Afghan security forces were part of their broader mission in Afghanistan, which lasted for nearly two decades. In June 2021, Germany completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, bringing an end to its deadliest military mission since World War II.

The German military reclassified the Afghanistan deployment as an armed conflict within the parameters of international law

The German military's reclassification of its Afghanistan deployment as an "armed conflict within the parameters of international law" was a significant shift in its approach to the conflict. This reclassification occurred in February 2010, following the Kunduz airstrike in September 2009, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Afghan civilians.

This reclassification had several important implications for the German military's involvement in Afghanistan:

Firstly, it allowed German forces to act without the risk of prosecution under German law. Prior to this, German troops had limited rules of engagement and were primarily focused on peacekeeping and development missions. The reclassification recognised the reality that German forces were increasingly engaged in combat operations and exposed to hostile threats.

Secondly, it reflected a change in the nature of the German military's role in Afghanistan. Initially, German troops were involved in only a handful of firefights with Taliban militants until 2009. However, by 2009, there were three major hotspots of insurgent activity: the insurgency in Kunduz' Char Dara district, the presence of armed militants in Baghlan province, and militant activities in Faryab province. German forces began conducting joint operations with Afghan security forces and increasingly found themselves in direct combat situations.

The reclassification also had political implications in Germany. The increasing casualties and changing nature of the conflict led to a public debate about Germany's role in Afghanistan. The German public has traditionally been reluctant to support overseas military engagements due to the country's history and the sense of guilt over the Nazi era. The Afghanistan deployment became even more controversial as casualties mounted, with 59 German soldiers dying in the conflict by October 2019.

The reclassification highlighted the evolving nature of the German military's role in Afghanistan and brought the reality of the conflict back home to the German public and politicians. It prompted discussions about the effectiveness of the mission, the rules of engagement, and the future role of the German military in international conflicts.

Overall, the German military's reclassification of the Afghanistan deployment as an "armed conflict within the parameters of international law" was a recognition of the intensifying nature of the conflict and the need for German forces to operate without legal restrictions. It had significant operational and political implications, shaping Germany's approach to military engagements and sparking debates about the country's role in international conflicts.

The German military conducted Operation Halmazag, the first German military ground offensive since World War II

Operation Halmazag (translated as "lightning" from Dari) was the first German military ground offensive since World War II. It was an offensive operation by ISAF German-led troops in close cooperation with the Afghan security forces in the province of Kunduz, from 31 October to 4 November 2010. The aim of the operation was to build a permanent outpost near the village of Quatliam in the Char Dara district, southwest of Kunduz.

The operation was conceived in line with the four-step counterinsurgency doctrine of "Shape-Clear-Hold-Build". This strategy involves convincing the local population of the advantages of an improved security environment, eliminating insurgent activities, preventing the return of insurgents, and securing the effectiveness of local governments and forces to prevent further insurgent activity.

The main offensive force was led by the paratrooper battalion 313, based in Seedorf, Germany. The plan was for Afghan police, backed by the US Army 1-87 infantry regiment, to march along the eastern flank, along the Kunduz River, toward the village of Isa Khel. Meanwhile, German armoured troops would secure the trail between Isa Khel and Quatliam. The German paratroopers, reinforced by a unit of the Afghan army, would then move in from the north, outflanking the Taliban in Quatliam. Afghan militias, supported by 150 American infantry troops, would close the circle from the south, forcing insurgents to surrender or flee.

During the approaching phase of the operation, insurgents attempted to ambush coalition troops with small arms and antitank weapons. There were three bomb attacks (IEDs) against US reconnaissance forces from the south, and two German Marder armoured personnel carriers covering the route between Isa Khel and Quatliam were damaged in the process. Two German soldiers and three US servicemen were slightly wounded.

On 2 April 2010, a large group of insurgents attacked 28 German paratroopers in the vicinity of Isa Khel and a nearby Afghan police station. Three German soldiers died of wounds sustained in combat, and eight others were injured. This was the bloodiest hostile encounter German troops had been involved in since the end of World War II.

During Operation Halmazag, German paratroopers requested artillery fire from the Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer and close air support from USAF F-15 and F-16 aircraft against hostile mortar positions. Taliban forces put up fierce resistance using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortars. According to German officials, the rebels used hit-and-run tactics to wear down coalition troops.

Once the main combat operation was over, ISAF established outposts in the village of Quatliam and along the supply road "Little Pluto", which were initially manned by German forces. This marked the beginning of the "hold" phase, in which the conquered territory is maintained and rebuilt under the constant presence of security forces, with the support of development and aid organisations.

The German military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021

The German military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan in June 2021, bringing to an end its longest military mission since World War II.

The last German troops left Afghanistan on the night of June 29, 2021, after almost 20 years in the country. The withdrawal was confirmed by German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who said:

> "Our last troops left Afghanistan this night after almost 20 years and are on their way home. This is the end of a historic chapter, of an intensive mission which has tested the Bundeswehr and in which the Bundeswehr has proven itself in combat."

The German contingent was the second-largest unit after the United States in the "Resolute Support" mission, which comprised 9,600 NATO soldiers. The German military had kept the details of the withdrawal vague on security grounds.

The withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan was part of a broader NATO withdrawal from the country. In mid-April 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO announced that they would pull out the roughly 10,000 foreign troops still in Afghanistan by September 11, 2021—the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York that prompted the mission.

Germany had the second-largest contingent of troops in Afghanistan, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the past two decades, many of whom served more than one tour of duty in the country.

Fifty-nine German soldiers died in Afghanistan, 35 of them killed in combat or as a result of militant attacks. The mission cost the German government around €12.5 billion ($15 billion).

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