They only fight dirt.

Germany’s armed forces are so ill-equipped with military equipment that a tank unit resorted to using a broomstick as a gun barrel during a NATO training exercise, The Times of London reported on Tuesday.

The sweeping revelation that the troops used a broomstick painted black to stand in as a rifle during a 2014 training operation in Norway came out in a leaked internal army report, the newspaper said.

An ombudsman for the armed forces said Germany’s military readiness has degenerated since a restructuring in 2011 leaving the country’s war-fighting equipment in poor shape.

Its navy only had nine frigates available – not the 15 that had been planned – and they are rarely in service because of frequent maintenance for overuse, said Hans-Peter Bartels.

None of Germany’s six submarines are combat-ready.

The report said Germany’s lack of working tanks, tents and winter clothing are creating doubt about the country’s pledge to take on more responsibility with NATO.