Danish soldiers face criticism over lack of preparation for combat in documentary series

The documentary series “Welcome to the Frontline” explores how Danish soldiers were repeatedly sent into combat partially unprepared, often facing significant mismatches between Denmark’s equipment and tactics and the realities of the battlefield. In the Balkans, soldiers found themselves in the midst of a brutal civil war where heavy weapons were employed without restraint, often while wearing only blue berets. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, early vehicles proved too soft and unprotected against the anticipated opposition.

The failure to adapt from the outset is a complex issue; however, institutions within the military once existed to study various battlefields, adjusting soldiers’ equipment and training to align theory with practice. Today, this capability has diminished.

Major Peter Søndergaard from the Defence Command has expressed concern over the military’s inability to learn from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He notes that if Denmark does not evolve with changing military dynamics, it risks being unprepared to confront future threats.

Cutbacks during the 2014 and 2018 defense agreements eliminated essential “branch schools,” such as the Army Combat School in Oksbøl, which had been crucial in improving soldiers’ safety after fatalities from roadside bombs. These schools facilitated the development of new tactics and methods based on frontline observations.

Currently, 800 Danish soldiers are stationed in Latvia as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence, ready to deter potential aggression from the east. However, their primary defense against drones remains a shout of “take cover” under camouflage nets. Meanwhile, Russia’s military bureaucracy progresses slowly in sharing lessons learned from their own soldiers on the frontlines, which might offer some advantage to the Danish military.