Does the German armor industry use a golden occasion?

German economy is crucial for European welfare. The engine in Germany: the automotive industry.

It is not going well for Volkswagen, which in the long run is a problem for the entire EU.

But it is good for rhein metal. It is the world’s 26th largest weapons manufacturer. A medium -sized company when compared to the American weapons industry, but a large and important company in Europe.

With 28,000 employees and a turnover that last year increased by 36 percent, Rhein metal is currently gold. The reason is the Russian attack war in Ukraine. For example, all the more than 100 leopard and 140 march wagons that Germany have sent to Ukraine are made of rhein metal.

At the same time, the German economy still continued last year to shrink. This year, economists anticipate zero growth.

Volkswagens Management wants to close at least three factories. Rhein metal is now interested in Volkswagen’s unprofitable factory in Osnabrück. The company could immediately employ 2,000 people, according to Rheinmetall’s CEO Armin Paper. It is about employees who otherwise lose their jobs at VW.

The German state is Rheinmetall’s most important customer. The company says openly: We take over Osnabrück only if we receive enough orders from the government.

The new German government has money for this purpose. Already last Bundestag approved the abolition of the so -called debt brake in terms of defense spending that exceeds 1 percent of GDP.

Still The parties do not seem to be shot so far. The compartment ig metal sits across, under the battle call « No armor from Osnabrück! ». Politicians from both the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Left (Die Linke) criticizes the effort And say they do not want any « war economy » in Germany.

The Germans, on the whole, have a split attitude to the renovation. A clear majority of 76 percent certainly supports investments in the defense, according to an opinion poll from March.

But here is a gorge between the former East and West Germany. According to the same survey, 41 percent of East Germans want military assistance to Ukraine to be withdrawn. In West Germany, the figure is 17 percent.

At least 77 German colleges have adopted a so -called Zivilklaselwhich means that they are only allowed to research for civilian purposes. Several technical colleges are on the list.

Does Germany intend to equip without having the entire research resource at its disposal?

Basically The renovation is primarily about Germany’s role in Europe. Since the Second World War, Berlin has let others decide on defense and security. In practice, Germany has submitted its defense to NATO. The relationship with the United States has become a blanket.

At the same time, Germany has always had its own defense industry. And now the country has a Chancellor who openly says that the United States is no longer expected. Friedrich Merz is known for not caring about taboo and he is strongly involved in Ukraine. Kyiv, in turn, needs the German weapons industry.

Everything is designed for the German defense industry to invest forward. Still, it is not said that the car factories will start making leopard tanks tomorrow. For example, in Osnabrück, Rhein metal first wants to go through the premises and check the outfit.

None of this has so far even started. Volkswagen still has not decided. It is a company that is known to take time.

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