Anger in the Barracks

The reports reaching Chancellor Ludwig Erhard at his vacation bungalow on Bavaria's Tegernsee were deeply disturbing. First, the commanding general of the Luftwaffe resigned in a huff. Then, in rapid succession, came two more walkouts, including that of West Germany's highest-ranking officer.

The generals were angry with Defense Minister Kai-Uwe von Hassel, 53. Luftwaffe Lieut. General Werner Panitzki publicly charged that Von Hassel had delayed making needed improvements in Germany's F-104 Starfighter fleet, of which 61 have crashed, killing 35 pilots. Four-star General Heinz Trettner, the West German equivalent to the U.S.'s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, went up in smoke after Von Hassel failed to consult him before ruling--of all things--that labor union organizers could enter military camps to recruit career enlisted men and officers for their ranks. The third resignation came from Major General Giinther Pape, the commander of West Germany's Ruhr-encompassing Third Defense District, who is a close friend of Trettner's.

The Social Democratic opposition as well as some dissidents within Erhard's own coalition sought to use the resignations to embarrass the Chancellor. They demanded that Von Hassel be fired.

Instead, Erhard returned to Bonn and publicly backed up his Defense Minister, accepting his nominations for new commanders to fill the place of the retiring generals. For one thing, Erhard did not want to set the precedent of firing a civilian Defense Minister just because a few generals were angry with him. For another, Von Hassel, the former minister-president of Schleswig-Holstein, commands the Protestant northern wing of the Christian Democratic Union, and Erhard does not want to offend some of his staunchest supporters.

On his past record, Erhard might well be able to smooth things over and prevent a serious government crisis. But the Social Democrats have invited the generals to testify this week before the Bundestag's defense committee. After that, they will push for a full debate when the Bundestag reconvenes.

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