Spiegel Deutschland4 hours agoDefense1 min readGermanyView original

For the first time, a woman takes command of a German frigate

Ute Niklas takes over the leadership of the frigate “Rheinland-Pfalz” as the first female commander in the history of the German Navy.

Frigate Rhineland-Palatinate German Navy Ute Niklas

Quick Look

Ute Niklas was the first woman to take command of a frigate in the German Navy and will now lead the “Rhineland-Palatinate”.
At the same time, there are reports of ongoing equipment shortages for female soldiers in the Bundeswehr.

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Why It Matters

Women are in the minority in the Bundeswehr at around 13 percent. For 25 years there has also been criticism of the lack of personal protective equipment for female soldiers.

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The frigate "Rhineland-Palatinate" is getting new leadership: The commander of the 4th frigate squadron, Volker Kübsch, has handed over leadership from Captain Benedikt Eichhorn to Ute Niklas.

Niklas is the first woman to take command of a frigate in the German Navy. She spoke of an “equally exciting and challenging phase. That will demand a lot from the entire crew,” said Niklas. She is looking forward to getting the ship back to sea. After a stay in the shipyard, it is important to bring the “Rheinland-Pfalz” back into full operational readiness, according to a statement.

Only more than 13 percent are female soldiers

Women are still in the minority in the Bundeswehr: According to official figures from the beginning of the year, there are more than 25,000 female soldiers. With a total of more than 184,000 military members of the Bundeswehr, that is only more than 13 percent.

But there are also internal issues in the Bundeswehr: According to a BR report, after 25 years there is still a lack of personal equipment for women. For example, there is a lack of protective vests that do justice to the female anatomy. The topic is on the agenda, but procurement is still “in its infancy,” said Chief Medical Officer Nicole Schilling to BR.