German Committee Recommends Cutbacks in Defense Spending

As major European countries seek to cut military forces in response to the economic slowdown and pressure from finance officials to rein in spending, the Defense Ministry of Germany has been advised to cut its staff by half, close several army bases and slim the armed forces from 250,000 to 180,000.

The recommendations were announced Sunday by Frank-Jürgen Weise, the head of a special cross-party commission charged with restructuring Germany’s military.

Mr. Weise’s proposal is likely to bolster efforts by Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who was appointed defense minister just over a year ago, to transform the German military.

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