Between 6th and 22nd March, the Franco-German Brigade successfully completed Exercise Feldberg 13, the Brigade's annual exercise. Conducted in Saxony this year, the objectives of the exercise were to reinforce inter-operability of German and French elements both at the staff and unit level of the Brigade. The exercise was designed as a tactical free terrain deployment in the framework of initial entry force operations. By all accounts the exercise went well. It should have done: the Franco-German Brigade has been doing this every year for the past 20 years. The trouble is the Brigade has never been engaged in a true joint operations deployment. Why is that ?
First of all, a little history
The roots of the Franco-German Brigade can be traced back to the signing of the Elysée Treaty of 1963. The Treaty aimed to "reset" French and West German relations and consolidate the political efforts of the newly created EEC (European Economic Community). The Treaty was signed by President de Gaulle and Chancellor Adenauer. It was seen as a step in the right direction to heal the wounds caused by the animosity between the two nations dating back centuries and which culminated in the horror of World War 2.
The Brigade itself was created on the 2nd of October 1989. It followed the spirit of the 1963 Treaty, being built upon 4 guiding principles: reconciliation, solidarity, fraternity and cooperation. On the ground, the Brigade is a combined arms unit fulfilling the role of a light armoured brigade. Composed of around 5,000 personnel, its headquarters are currently based in Müllheim, Germany, but its garrisons are based in both France and Germany. The leadership rotates between a German and French officers. The Franco-German Brigade is unique in the world: a combined armed unit under bi-national command. It's creation was no small feat, and many sceptics spoke out saying that the Brigade was a political totem, and that combining forces of two different armies, with their own distinct materiel and doctrines, to fight as a cohesive unit would be impossible. Yet it endures 24 years on.
At the European level, the Franco-German Brigade constitutes the heart of Eurocorp and is also a critical component of the European rapid reaction forces. The main prerogative of the Brigade is to be deployed in places where France and Germany would also deploy troops - for example as part of SFOR and KFOR, as well as the ISAF in Afghanistan.
Deployed yes, but not together
Whilst elements of the Brigade were deployed in Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan, most of these elements were deployed alongside their national counterparts, not as the unified brigade they make up. Most recently, in Afghanistan, French and German troops were deployed to administer completely different regions of the country. The only time when the Brigade constituent regiments operate together tends to be on exercises. This has led to the rather facetious monniker as the "Military Drill World Champions".
The problem with a the concept of a bi-national fighting force is not military. By all accounts, the Brigade operates well as a whole: the problems are political and legal. France and Germany have different foreign policy attitudes and legal systems. Although fighting together, the French and German regiments have to abide by their own rules of engagement shaped by their respective nation's legal system. For the Brigade to fight as a whole, cohesive unit, France and Germany would have to agree to a common legal operational framework that would satisfy both nations. On top of that, France and Germany would have to agree to a joint deployment in the first place. No small task considering the two countries diverging foreign policy postures.
So were the sceptics right? Is this just a political symbol?
If judged by its operational history, perhaps. So far only elements of the Brigade have been deployed, all three times under NATO mandate and alongside their national counterparts, not as the bilateral force is was meant to be.
Nevertheless the Brigade has shown that the concept from a military standpoint can work - and a unified European defence policy is still in its infancy. However tightening defence budgets around Europe are starting to shape new thinking around European levels of defence co-operation. Case in point: the bilateral agreements between France and Britain in 2010.
Even if the Franco-German Brigade is just a symbol, it's a strong one. It is proof that old wounds and rivalries can be put aside and perhaps shows us that the future of European defence lies not in a grand policy consensus, but smaller bilateral agreements which allow for more flexibility in deployment and implementation.
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