Germany rearms as ongoing Ukraine war shakes sense of security in Europe

60 Minutes - Newsmakers Germany rearms as war in Ukraine threatens security and U.S. presses Europe to shoulder more of its defense .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-60-minutes.jpg'); } By Bill Whitaker, Bill Whitaker 60 Minutes Correspondent Bill Whitaker is an award-winning journalist and 60 Minutes correspondent who has covered major news stories, domestically and across the globe, for more than four decades with CBS News. Read Full Bio Bill Whitaker, Marc Lieberman Marc Lieberman Marc Lieberman joined 60 Minutes in 2014. Working with correspondent Bill Whitaker, he has produced more than 40 stories, including breaking news, newsmaker interviews, profiles, and in-depth investigations. He started his career at CBS News in 1992. Read Full Bio Marc Lieberman Updated on: May 31, 2026 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google This is an updated version of a story first published on Dec 14, 2025. The original video can be viewed here. U.S. troops have been stationed in Germany since the end of World War II, providing critical support for our NATO ally. This month, just days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the war in Iran, the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. Spurred by Russia's full- scale invasion of Ukraine - and persistent pressure from President Donald Trump for Europe to shoulder more of its own defense - European nations are beefing up their militaries. Nowhere is the impact more profound than in Germany. Scarred by their country's Nazi past, Germans embraced pacifism after the Cold War. Defense spending collapsed to the point some soldiers were buying their own gear. But, as we first reported in December, the landscape has transformed. Today, Germany is racing to rearm.In November, we were invited by the Bundeswehr, the German military, to observe basic training at the Munster Army Base in northwest Germany. A squad of recruits ran punishing drills, ho...