Dismissal of the German Armed Forces Commander and Replacement of the Head of Internal Operations

The German Ministry of Defense decided to dismiss the commander of the country's armed forces and appoint the current head of internal operations in his place.

The senior military commander in office since April 2018, General Aberhard Zorn, will be sacked and replaced by Lieutenant General Carsten Breuer, who was appointed in late 2021 as head of an expert group advising officials on how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

The defence ministry on Wednesday did not specify the reason for the change, which comes as Germany moves to modernize its military and upgrade its equipment.

Minister Boris Pistorius brought new energy with him to the ministry after taking over two months ago following the resignation of his much-criticized predecessor.

Zorn said during a visit to Estonia on Wednesday that his dismissal was a "clear political decision" and that he "has absolutely no problem with that," dpa reported.

"When there is a fresh beginning, it becomes very useful to start with new faces." The military chief of staff is responsible for the operational and strategic planning and command of the army's tasks and is the government's most senior military adviser.

Brewer's tenure will begin on Friday.