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A German infantry soldier holds his weapon while he waits for the arrival of new German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere at the Bundeswehr combat training center on March 9, 2011 in Letzlingen, Germany. De Maiziere succeeds Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and faces the complex task of carrying through much-needed reforms of the German armed forces.

German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere (L) shakes hands with a soldier as he visits the combat training centre of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces in Letzlingen near Magdeburg, some 190 km (118 miles) east of Berlin, March 9, 2011.

Troops of the 37th Armoured Infantry Brigade (37. Panzergrenadierbrigade) await the arrival of new German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere at the Bundeswehr combat training center on March 9, 2011 in Letzlingen, Germany. De Maiziere succeeds Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and faces the complex task of carrying through much-needed reforms of the German armed forces.

A Marder light tank of the 37th Armoured Infantry Brigade (37. Panzergrenadierbrigade) participates in a military exercise during a visit by new German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere at the Bundeswehr combat training center on March 9, 2011 in Letzlingen, Germany.

A Leopard 2 heavy tank of the 37th Armoured Infantry Brigade (37. Panzergrenadierbrigade) participates in a military exercise during a visit by new German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere at the Bundeswehr combat training center on March 9, 2011 in Letzlingen, Germany. De Maiziere succeeds Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and faces the complex task of carrying through much-needed reforms of the German armed forces.

Recently-appointed new German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere greets troops of the 37th Armoured Infantry Brigade (37. Panzergrenadierbrigade) at the Bundeswehr combat training center on March 9, 2011 in Letzlingen, Germany. De Maiziere succeeds Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and faces the complex task of carrying through much-needed reforms of the German armed forces.