In Germany, a big com operation to restore the army coat of arms – Liberation

Install an « iron dome » in Berlin, as in Israel, to intercept the shells of Vladimir Putin? The proposal of the president of the conservative parliamentary group (CDU) in the regional parliament of the German capital, Dirk Stettner, made smile in the defense and security circles. But it did, this Friday, June 13, the front page of the very serious local daily life Der tagesspiegel, revealing the German level of concern in the face of the Russian threat. « Germany is the first target of hybrid attacks in Europe », Recalls the environmental deputy Konstantin von Notz, president of the parliamentary control body of the German intelligence services.

In this context of concern about a possible return of war, Germany inaugurates its « veterans day » on Sunday, June 15, which pays homage to the veterans for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic. « Many soldiers in Afghanistan felt alone, in particular, to the psychological consequences of their mission », Recalls Sönke Neitzel, military historian at the University of Potsdam. But it is above all at the 10 million soldiers of the Bundeswehr, active or retired, that this day pays tribute.

In Berlin, around the Reichstag building, the army has drew up a vast « village of veterans » with estrades for debates, information stands that will rub shoulders with food-trucks, all punctuated by concerts. A vast communication operation to restore the Bundeswehr coat of arms, long -loved by the population.

Since the war in Ukrainethree years ago, these soldiers are heroes. Germany has not only decided to put its army standing up but it also wants to acquire the conventional army « The most powerful in Europe », Under the terms of the New chancellor, Friedrich Merz.

Lieutenant-General Alfons but, current Inspector General of the Army (equivalent to chief of staff in Germany) qualified the Bundeswehr, as« Exsangue ». Its recovery will swallow colossal sums. Superbly ignoring the budgetary rigor to which the Germans are traditionally attached, Merz has torn from the Bundestag a historical constitutional reform for Sauté the debt lock on all expenses concerning the defense. « Whatever it costs »hammers the chancellor. At least 500 billion euros, experts advance.

Berlin promised to follow Donald Trump’s requirements on his military spending by devoting 3.5 % of GDP to his army and 1.5 % to logistics infrastructure (roads, barracks, railways). The reset program is so gigantic that it could become the engine of the growth of the stagnant economy.

To meet the requirements of NATO, Germany is preparing a rise in its military workforce. By 2031, the Bundeswehr will have to go from 180,000 soldiers currently to more than 250,000. An ambitious objective, which raises a sensitive question: will it be necessary to restore conscription, suspended in 2011? It is inevitable, estimates the spokesperson for the CDU foreign policy, Norbert Röttgen: « Service on the simple voluntary basis will not be enough to respond to the shortage. »

The ecologist Joschka Fischer who fought all his youth against conscription goes even further by demanding the mobilization of women. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs wants a compulsory and mixed service: « Germany must be ready to fight for freedom. » His position is that of the entire Die Grünen party, the only one to be favorable to the delivery of cruise missiles to Kyiv.

The Minister of Defense, who confirms that the new NATO objectives will require 60,000 additional German soldiers (against an estimate of only 20,000 a year ago), prepares for this summer the vote of a text comprising an important « plan B »: if recruitment on the voluntary basis is not enough, conscription will be restored.

This positioning goes to-war obviously causes epidermal reactions on the side of the former pacifists. The left wing of the SPD, led by an old social democratic guard which refers to the relaxation strategy of a Willy Brandt or in Gorbatchev, published a Wednesday a « manifest » – A big word for a four -page document, calling for a resumption of dialogue with Moscow. The 100 SPD signatories, including five deputies, denounce the « Arms race » of the Merz government and the warrior rhetoric of their comrade SPD in charge of defense in the power coalition, Boris Pistorius who said that Germany should again be « Capable of making a war ». Kriegstüchtig, in German in the text.

“Any idiot is able to talk about weapons. On the other hand, diplomacy is more difficult. It’s art ”, At Griné Ralf Stegner, one of the initiators of the manifesto. On the day of his publication, Boris Pistorius was in Kyiv to announce new military aid of almost 2 billion, tackling the « Denial of reality » part of his party.