German Army Commander Resigns

Defense Minister Peter Struck has accepted the resignation of the commander of the German army, according to a ministry spokesman in an article in Tuesday’s edition of Die Welt newspaper. On Struck's recommendation to German Presiden Johannes Rau, Lieutenant General Gert Gudera has been granted early retirement. The ministry did not explain what led to the defense minister’s decision, although the newspaper report stated that Gudera, 60, had clashed with Struck over the sweeping reform of the armed forces announced last week. Struck’s plan proposes €26 billion ($32 billion) in military spending cuts over the next few years.