Germany to supply 50 Leopard 1 tanks, 60 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine

Germany is supplying up to 50 Leopard 1 tanks and at least 60 Marder-type armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine to arm its soldiers to counter incoming Russian assault inside Ukrainian territories. German manufacturer of military equipment, Rheinmetall will supply Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukrainian Armed Forces by end of 2022, Berlin’s newspaper Bild reported. Marder vehicles of German infantry are operated by German Army. y are main weapon of Panzergrenadiere (mechanized infantry) since 1970s in Berlin. 

“ sealed hull is welded from different kinds of up 30 mm thick armor-clad sheets, capable of protecting front from 20 mm and 25 mm bullets from a distance of 200 m, and from sides – from shrapnel, small 7.62 mm arms,” Blid reports. 

Initially, defence equipment manufacturing firm proposed to German government a scheme through which Marder infantry fighting vehicles could have been immediately delivered over to Ukrainian forces. But this would mean that vehicles would have to be shipped from available supplies of German Armed Forces. proposal was rejected by German Defense Ministry. Bundeswehr even made an offer to be compensated for lost amount with new samples. Rheinmetall had also asked to purchase 4 million units of ammunition for BMP from German Defense Ministry but re was alleged “ response” from German government. 

Germany says it reached a 'limit' to supplying arms to Ukraine 

Germany has reached limits and has exhausted its ability to supply weapons to Ukraine from its army reserves, but is coordinating with  arms industry for deliveries, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht had told state press. 

“For deliveries coming from Bundeswehr’s stocks, I have to say honestly that we have reached a limit,” she told German daily Augsburger Allgemeine.  German army must maintain its capacity to act and be able to “guarantee defence of country and (NATO) alliance”, she added.  “But that doesn’t mean we can’t do more for Ukraine, that’s why we have clarified what industry can provide directly” to Kyiv, Lambrecht said.  Berlin is “continuously consulting with Ukraine on this subject”. As Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany had been reluctant due to "historical reasons from WWII" to send weapons to Ukraine.