On 29 July, the German newspaper #SZ published an interview with LTC “Tobias”, commanding officer of the German #KSK-team that took part in the #Kabul evacuation in Aug 2021. Rare insights, given the notoriously taciturn #KSK press policy: 👉some key takeaways. 1/8 #miltwitter 
It needed the fall of Mazār-i-Sharīf (14 Aug), to convince the govt to “flip the switch” and decide to evacuate. Priority was on German citizens. At this point, there was no known scheme for Afghan local staff and families. 2/8
On 15 Aug, 20 #KSK personnel deployed together with 80 paratroopers. #KSK was thought to function as the para commander’s “joker” for rescue ops outside the airport. The task force hit Kabul airport in a combat landing 30 hours after being put on alert. 3/8
At the time of arrival, #KSK had not received a list of legitimate evacuees from #germandiplo. The soldiers started to identify potential evacuees via media channels and individual contact calls. 4/8
North Gate was assigned as the collection point for German citizens. “Tobias” describes the situation: “Here, the law of the strongest was in place”. Women and children were pushed aside. Men had snatched children using them as “tickets” for getting into the secured area. 5/8
The plan to employ 2 H-145M #SOF helicopters was thwarted by a media indiscretion of the Cons MP Johann Wadepuhl. Thus, the commando was restricted to nighty ground operations through secret loopholes in the airport wall. 6/8
Between 16 and 26 Aug, #KSK conducted 12 rescue ops outside the perimeter, rescuing about 100 German and 50 Afghan nationals. The soldiers followed a women-first-policy turning away men how appeared to pose as relatives. 7/8
“Tobias” reflects: “We simply came too late. That’s for sure. In my opinion, this needs to be subject to an enquiry.” 8/8
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