As Russian aggression continues and Trump’s US threatens NATO, it is even more vital for a unified defence of the continent.
Timothy Garton Ash Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford
Timothy Garton Ash Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford
Last time Germany had a military power, they tried, and partially succeeded, to firmly embed it in Europe.
If anybody wants to know “what’s been taking so long” responses like this are probably the reason.
To be honest, I am glad Germans are arming themselves. I even hope, that if the time comes, they will be determined enough to send their troops east. As a Pole I really hope, this time, they will do it in cooperation with Poland, not with russia.
I’ve got bad news for you. AfD will probably take power, starting in German states this fall…just like the NSDAP did. They are Russian puppets through and through.
If anything the Eastern European states should be afraid of German military spending at this time.
Last time? True, Western Germany was a super powerful military embedded in western Europe. Maybe that’s why the Soviets never attacked.
Imagine simping so hard for the German state, that you pretend not to understand, what‘s meant by „military power“ and „last time“ and in the next sentence shift towards an attack on the military power that paid with 27 million lives to stop Germany‘s extermination campaign, the last time it was a military power.
Absolutely normal.
It is absolutely normal if one is not completely fixated on second world war. And the “last time” Germany had an significant military was not in the 30s and 40s… it was in the 80s, with strong ties to NATO and firmly on the ground of the German constitution.
Removed by mod
If not utterly condemning the Bundeswehr and highlighting positive things where they are is “simping” for you - yep, that’s me!
Yep, feel free to block me if you don’t want to see opinions conflicting with your own.
This is - at best - a half-truth. Germany is the biggest economy in Europe, it is only natural that it has to shoulder a big part of the European defence. Even with a massive rearmament to reduce the impact of the decreasing US military presence - which is happening all over Europe, mind you - Germany’s role is to be a part in a defensive alliance. If you see any ambition to conquer “Lebensraum” in the east, please feel free to share the evidence.
Removed by mod
Honestly, thank you for this clarification of your standpoint. I think it is in the best interest of both our blood pressure and the discussion climate in this community if we disengage our communication at this point - as neither of us will be able to convince the other of our viewpoints.
In this spirit i wish you a nice day.
Removed by mod
I know that you are German. You probably feel deeply ashamed about your family’s history and your great grandparents or great great grandparents and their crimes.
But please don’t put your personal history onto cotemporary Europe.
Please also don’t let it drive you to ignore history of all the millions who died due to Soviet war crimes, violence, starvation.
We’re all against fascism here, darling. You’re not alone. This is not the battle you’re fighting.
I’d suggest to talk for yourself only. And you certainly are not anti-fascist. You don’t even know how stores work, why should any normal working class human trust your Staatsräson takes, that usually are not even based on facts or reality even?
And you keep doing this same attempt of a character assassination based on nothing. It’s a bit embarrassing. And always when your hilarious state narratives are being challenged.
We’ve been talking German military and you keep trying to shift the focus away from the state’s obvious historic path and responsibility, by the use of Red Scare propaganda to shovel blame onto the evil Soviets. The shit you pull is close to denial of German history.
Anything, except accepting critique of the German state.