Ex-British NATO chief calls Germany's refusal to send tanks to Ukraine 'pathetic'

General Sir Richard Shirreff, former head of Britain's NATO, has accused Olaf Scholz's government of "dodging its responsibilities

Germany has been accused of "shitting away from its responsibilities" by not sending tanks (

Image: Michael Sohn/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

A former British NATO chief called Germany's refusal to send tanks to Ukraine "pathetic".

General Sir Richard Shirreff said Berlin was "shitting its responsibility" to help repel Putin's invasion and compared the Russian leader to Adolf Hitler.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

It also prevented other European countries from sending German-made vehicles.

Sir Richard, who was the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in Europe, said: "Germany has a special responsibility because of its history, to help Ukraine defend itself against an autocrat bloodied, ready to inflict untold pain on a neighbor, for Germany has been here before.

"I wouldn't draw too many parallels, there is always a danger, but the last time someone did this kind of behavior was Hitler."

General Sir Richard Shirreff denounced Germany's failure to offer more tanks to Ukraine (

Picture:

Getty Images)

Speaking to , he added: "So Germany has a special responsibility and it is ducking that responsibility, and if it is ducking that responsibility, then how reliable is Germany as an ally of the "NATO, when called upon to implement Article 5, frankly? It's pathetic."

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an armed attack on one member is to be considered an attack on all.

The UK has pledged to send 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv.

And former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who visited Ukraine yesterday, said: 'The only way to end this war is for Ukraine to win - and win as quickly as possible ." It's time to double down and...