Veterans Day | Protests against Bundeswehr parties

According to the German government, the new Veterans Day —its introduction was decided upon by the "traffic light" coalition—is necessary to honor the achievements of its active and former soldiers. On Sunday, this took place nationwide for the first time with festive events, Bundeswehr parades, and military demonstrations. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described members of the Bundeswehr as a "central component of society and guarantors of peace and security" in Germany and Europe. "Their place is at the heart of society," the SPD politician said at a promotions ceremony in Hamburg.

While there were protests on the streets across Germany against the military celebrations, only Bundeswehr fans and politicians were given a voice on Deutschlandfunk. Criticism and actions against this have been going on for weeks. Over the weekend, anti-militarists hijacked advertising display cases in 13 cities and hung fake Bundeswehr posters inside. The posters, designed in the Bundeswehr's camouflage design, read: "Hanging out with Nazi preppers?" and "German mix: Nazis, bullets, isolated cases."

This was combined with the pink slogan "No to Veterans Day!" The poster campaign was initiated by the Antimilitarist Action Network within the German Peace Society – United War Resisters (DFG-VK). "The slogans are allusions to a series of right-wing scandals surrounding the Bundeswehr and veterans' associations," says Kai N. Krieger, spokesperson for the network.

But these adbusting actions didn't stop there. A demonstration organized by an anti-militarist alliance began in Berlin on Sunday afternoon, but only about 400 people participated. Kai, who carried a flag with a dove of peace, was disappointed by the low turnout. "The heat probably discouraged some people from participating," he suggested. Indeed, it was sweltering on Sunday afternoon, and people sought shade.

One young man criticized the fact that it was not immediately apparent that this was an anti-militarist demonstration. A sea of ​​Palestinian flags and also an Iranian national flag were visible. The banners against war and nationalism were almost drowned out.

Some demonstrators also brought very personal messages. "Fight yourselves and leave the civilians alone," one woman had written on the sign she held aloft. Werner Moormann-Dressel put in a particularly hard work. He brought a complex piece of blacksmithing bearing the slogan "Make Love, Not War." Under the motto "Blacksmithing for Peace," the village blacksmith from Blankenfelde-Mahlow frequently participates in peace demonstrations with his artwork.

Many young people were also present at the demonstration, distributing flyers and longer manifestos. These included a brochure on the student collective's antimilitarist campaign. It describes how antimilitarist work is being developed at universities and how resistance to militarization can be offered at universities.

This was also the theme of the numerous speeches delivered at the demonstration from the two loudspeaker vans. "If we fail to advance the fight against militarization at universities and in the workplace, we won't bring more people onto the streets," said one speaker, referring to the small number of demonstrators.

The fight against the conversion of civilian and defense production , which is already taking place, will also play an important role in the future. Rheinmetall is soon to produce weapons components in the Berlin district of Wedding, where civilian production previously existed. The grassroots organization Gesundbrunnen of the Left Party, which supported the demonstration, opposes this.

Among the speakers was Daniel Lücking, himself a Bundeswehr veteran and nd author. He drew attention to the truly difficult situation of many injured and traumatized veterans. "Tens of thousands of euros are being poured into a public festival, while the problems continue for many of those affected," he told nd. The thank-you messages from severely injured former soldiers on the Veterans Day website cannot disguise the fact that other victims "had to fight for up to 15 years for recognition of war-related injuries." There is a lack of "experts and the compensation guaranteed by law."

Lückig also asks: "Why is such a day dedicated to female soldiers, while nurses, garbage collectors, educators, and other professional groups aren't given a public festival? Those who highlight or glorify individual professional groups in this way only demonstrate a lack of understanding of how social cohesion can be promoted."

Within earshot of the Berlin celebration, there was another rally organized by the Provisional Anarchist Anti-War Council. Fifty anti-militarists gathered there, urging the veterans passing by in uniform to desert. The people they addressed ignored their calls. Several young people in uniform had also gathered in the square. They belonged to the "Clown Army," whose humorous actions also irritated the police. Some anti-militarists made it to the lawn in front of the Reichstag. They chanted slogans and whistled.