Militarism in Germany
German government to continue military operations in the Middle East
By Johannes Stern, 18 January 2020
All of the parliamentary parties agree with the government’s policy of escalating Germany military intervention in the region.
The Libya conference and the new scramble for Africa
By Johannes Stern, 18 January 2020
The Berlin meeting is reminiscent of the infamous Congo Conference, also held in Berlin in 1884-85 and aimed at the complete colonization of Africa.
European powers move toward scrapping nuclear accord with Iran
By Alex Lantier, 15 January 2020
Berlin, London and Paris, emboldened by Tehran’s weak response to the US murder of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, are escalating attacks against Iran.
German government defends US war drive against Iran
By Johannes Stern, 10 January 2020
Having previously defended the US assassination of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, an illegal act of state terror, Berlin condemned Iran’s retaliatory strike.
European governments defend US state terrorism following assassination of Iranian General Suleimani
By Peter Schwarz, 7 January 2020
While the European governments have called for de-escalation, they have refused to condemn as a war crime the targeted killing of a high-ranking representative of a sovereign country.
The growing fascist influence in German politics: The case of Christian Democratic politician Robert Möritz
By Gregor Link and Johannes Stern, 7 January 2020
At the end of last year, the case of the former Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician highlighted the sharp shift to the right of the ruling class in Germany.
German defence minister supports combat operations in Africa
By Gregor Link and Peter Schwarz, 4 January 2020
Over the holidays, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer reiterated her call for a massive expansion of the Franco-German campaign in the Sahel region.
German government condemns US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 pipeline
By Johannes Stern, 23 December 2019
The temporary halt to construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has dramatically intensified tensions between the United States and the European powers.
Germany’s Left Party hails new SPD leadership and grand coalition
By Johannes Stern, 17 December 2019
The efforts to present Saskia Esken and Nobert Walter-Borjans as fighters for a “left-wing camp” that will introduce a new era of social democracy are patently absurd.
Former head of German Secret Service publishes fascist manifesto
By the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, 7 December 2019
Maassen’s article contains a thinly-veiled call for building a fascist movement to crush working class opposition to social inequality and militarism.
Germany: Far-right AfD’s party conference strengthens völkisch-nationalist “wing”
By Peter Schwarz, 4 December 2019
The nationalist “wing” group (Der Flügel) in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) around Björn Höcke and Andreas Kalbitz has emerged strengthened from its federal party conference.
NATO bitterly divided as London summit begins
By Alex Lantier, 3 December 2019
NATO heads of state arrived yesterday in London for a two-day summit beginning today, 70 years after NATO’s foundation in the aftermath of World War II in 1949.
Germany’s budget for 2020: Billions for rearmament and war
By Johannes Stern, 2 December 2019
Five years ago the grand coalition announced Germany’s return to an aggressive foreign and great power policy. The far-reaching consequences of such a policy are increasingly reflected in the current budget.
Right-wing German Army officer Franco A. to be charged for terrorism
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 2 December 2019
The details now made public strongly suggest that the 30-year-old ex-Army officer is a neo-Nazi terrorist.
German government plans new military interventions, massive rearmament
By Johannes Stern, 29 November 2019
The German army is preparing for new military interventions. The plans were announced by the German defence minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, on Monday at a Bundeswehr base in Saarland.
German student organisation bombarded with far-right hate mail
By Gregor Link, 25 November 2019
The University of Hamburg student organization has been bombarded with hate mail and threats of violence after students protested against a founding member of the far-right Alternative for Germany, Bernd Lucke, returning to his teaching post.
NATO riven by tensions between major powers
By Alex Lantier, 22 November 2019
The NATO foreign ministers summit in Brussels dealt with political fallout from French President Macron’s statement that the US-European alliance is “brain dead.”
German big business continues its new scramble for Africa
By Peter Schwarz, 22 November 2019
German big business is on the hunt for new markets, raw materials, investment opportunities and cheap labor.
German army recruits swear war oath in front of Reichstag building
By Gregor Link, 18 November 2019
Both Schäuble and Kramp-Karrenbauer have made clear in recent weeks that the time has come for the return of German imperialism to the world stage.
The German government’s “basic pension” bluff
By Marianne Arens, 15 November 2019
The new measure will not improve the lot of poor pensioners. Rather, the grand coalition government hopes to secure its survival so as to pursue its great power policies and militarist aims.
German defence minister calls for expansion of foreign military interventions
By Peter Schwarz, 11 November 2019
In a keynote address, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer declared, “there is broad agreement that, given the strategic challenges, Germany must ... “do more to defend our values and interests.”
German imperialism’s new drive for world power
By Johannes Stern, 7 November 2019
In a lecture on the theme of “Germany’s role in a globalised world,” the president of the parliament, Wolfgang Schäuble, called for a return to a foreign policy of military violence.
Halle, Germany: Government moves to establish a police state after fascist attack
By Gregor Link, 5 November 2019
The government is using the attack as a pretext to further arm the state apparatus and implement long-held plans to spy on journalists and Internet users.
Germany’s grand coalition extends military operations in Syria and Iraq
By Johannes Stern, 2 November 2019
Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, leading politicians from all parties openly advocate policies of war and military violence.
German state election: the Left Party’s policies open the way for the fascistic AfD
By Johannes Stern, 29 October 2019
The established parties were punished by the electorate for their right-wing and anti-working-class policies, but the main beneficiary is the far-right Alternative for Germany.
German media gripped by war fever
By Peter Schwarz, 28 October 2019
It is remarkable how little effort is made by the journalists to conceal their battle cries behind the usual phrases about “peace,” “human rights,” and “democracy.”
NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to call for new Middle East wars
By Alex Lantier, 25 October 2019
NATO officials began a two-day summit yesterday in Brussels, calling for new military escalation in the Middle East after the debacle of their eight-year war in Syria.
No to the German-European security zone in Syria!
By Johannes Stern, 24 October 2019
The call by German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer for an international security zone in northern Syria marks a new stage in the revival of German militarism.
German defence minister visits Niger and Mali in preparation for massive combat operation in the Sahel
By Gregor Link, 17 October 2019
The German government is preparing to expand its Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) mission in Mali and Niger into a massive combat operation and to extend it indefinitely.
Thousands protest in Germany against right-wing violence following fascist Yom Kippur attack
By Marianne Arens, 14 October 2019
Last Wednesday’s attack in Halle by a heavily armed fascist, anti-Semite, on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, has evoked horror and a wave of solidarity protests against right-wing violence.
Germany: The election of the SPD leader and the decline of social democracy
By Ulrich Rippert, 14 October 2019
A glance at the list of candidates for the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) makes clear the wealthy social layers that set the tone and whose reactionary programme they represent.
German Nazi murders two in Yom Kippur Synagogue attack
By Johannes Stern, 10 October 2019
The Nazi assault on the Halle synagogue is aimed at demonstrating that anti-Semitism is, once again, a significant political force in Germany.
Ahead of state election in German state of Thuringia
Left Party Minister President Bodo Ramelow lauds the right-wing CDU
By Johannes Stern, 3 October 2019
With its right-wing and pro-capitalist policies, the Left Party, whose predecessors reintroduced capitalism into East Germany 30 years ago, bears major responsibility for the rise of the far-right.
German government extends war mission in Middle East
By Johannes Stern, 25 September 2019
The Grand Coalition is continuing the German military mission in Syria and Iraq and will deploy the Bundeswehr beyond its current mandate in the region.
The fascist network behind the murder of Walter Lübcke
By Peter Schwarz, 25 September 2019
Three months after the murder of Kassel’s regional president, there is mounting evidence that the Christian Democratic politician was the victim of an extreme right-wing network reaching deep into the state security apparatus.
Fascism and militarism characterise debate in the German Bundestag
By Johannes Stern, 13 September 2019
While opposition to war and fascism is enormous among workers and youth, even 80 years after the beginning of World War II, the ruling class is returning to its authoritarian, militaristic and racist traditions.
Fascism and militarism characterise debate in the German Bundestag
By Johannes Stern, 13 September 2019
While opposition to war and fascism is enormous among workers and youth, even 80 years after the beginning of World War II, the ruling class is returning to its authoritarian, militaristic and racist traditions.
WikiLeaks exposes crimes of German imperialism
By Gregor Link, 6 September 2019
The German media has slandered WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces possible life imprisonment or the death penalty in the US for making Washington’s war crimes public.
German president silent on the Holocaust at WWII memorial
By Peter Schwarz, 4 September 2019
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier failed to utter a word about the extermination of the Jews at a ceremony in Warsaw marking the 80th anniversary of World War II.
Germany: Xenophobic and anti-Semitic offences are rising sharply
By Isabel Roy, 2 September 2019
On average, there were 26 offences against immigrants or Jews each day in 2018.
German President Steinmeier and the Nazi massacre at Fivizzano
By Johannes Stern, 29 August 2019
Steinmeier cannot and does not want to speak about the origins of Nazi terror, because the ruling class is in the process of returning to an aggressive and imperialist foreign policy, and rehabilitating its fascist traditions.
German Socialist Equality Party answers legal document from Verfassungsschutz Secret Service
By Peter Schwarz, 28 August 2019
A legal brief submitted to the Berlin District Court by the SGP said Germany’s Secret Service was abusing its “constitutional role in a legally impermissible manner” when it “stigmatises criticism of the capitalist system as ‘anti-constitutional’.”
German defence minister visits troops in Jordan and Iraq
By Johannes Stern, 23 August 2019
The message of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was the same everywhere: The German army should continue and even expand its operations in the resource-rich Middle East.
Germany: Ex-intelligence chief campaigns for Christian Democrats and far-right AfD
By Ulrich Rippert, 19 August 2019
Maassen is organizing election meetings in which there are often more supporters of the far-right AfD than CDU voters.
Three-star general stands for far-right Alternative for Germany in mayoral election
By Christopher Lehmann, 14 August 2019
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has selected Joachim Wundrak, a former Luftwaffe lieutenant-general, as its candidate for the Hannover mayoral election on October 27.
The German media and Julian Assange: Silence and slander
By Gregor Link and Johannes Stern, 13 August 2019
Over a week after a US federal court threw out a civil case brought by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) against Julian Assange, the German media has been dominated by an embarrassed silence.
German government and Greens promote military mission in Persian Gulf
By Johannes Stern, 10 August 2019
The German ruling class is intensifying its campaign for a European war mission in the Persian Gulf. Especially aggressive are the leaders of the Green party.
German politicians and media urge military action in the Persian Gulf
By Ulrich Rippert and Peter Schwarz, 1 August 2019
The more the US pushes ahead with its preparations for war against Iran, the louder the voices will become in Europe that are pushing for military action.
Die Zeit editor Jochen Bittner condemns “German pacifism”
By Johannes Stern, 31 July 2019
An op-ed by Bittner in the New York Times treats the German population’s aversion to war as a problem to be overcome.
Germany: New defence minister demands more money, recognition for the armed forces
By Ulrich Rippert, 30 July 2019
The change at the top of the Defence Ministry is linked to an intense campaign for military rearmament.
New draconian police law introduced in Germany
By Tino Jacobson and Marianne Arens, 29 July 2019
With its new police law, the state government of the SPD and CDU is covering up the activities of far-right forces and at the same time implementing AfD policy.
German government uses 75th anniversary of plot to kill Hitler to promote rearmament and war
By Johannes Stern, 27 July 2019
It is only logical that the German ruling class hails the assassins of July 20, who were extreme nationalists and deeply involved in Nazi crimes.
Germany: Racist assassination attempt on Eritrean man
By Marianne Arens, 26 July 2019
On Monday a man from Eritrea was gunned down on the street and seriously injured in the town of Wächtersbach in the state of Hesse.
Stop the right-wing conspiracy! Defend the SGP against the Verfassungsschutz secret service!
Socialist Equality Party (Germany), 26 July 2019
The German Verfassungsschutz has produced a 56-page response to the lawsuit filed by the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party—SGP) challenging its official designation as a “left-wing extremist” organisation subject to state surveillance. The government’s response is an angry diatribe against Marxism and every form of socialist and progressive thought.
German Christian Democrat leader Kramp-Karrenbauer to become new defence minister
By Ulrich Rippert, 19 July 2019
The decision part of a shift to the right characterised by a vast programme of military rearmament.
Germany’s Grand Coalition intensifies war policy in the Middle East
By Johannes Stern, 12 July 2019
The German government wants to step up the German army’s war mission in Syria.
German minister of defence to head European Commission
By Peter Schwarz, 4 July 2019
The proposal is aimed at developing the European Union into a military superpower under German-French domination .
The global war on refugees
By Will Morrow, 3 July 2019
All over the world, immigrants are being systematically persecuted by capitalist governments, which are increasingly adopting the policies of the extreme right.
Students block right-wing think tank on “Dictatorship Research” at Berlin’s Humboldt University
By International Youth and Students for Social Equality at Humboldt University, 29 June 2019
The attempt of far-right professor and Eastern European historian Jörg Baberowski to set up a think tank at Humboldt University has failed.
Lübcke’s murderer was part of vast underground German neo-Nazi terrorist network
By Johannes Stern, 28 June 2019
Stephen Ernst, the assassin of CDU politician Walter Lübcke, acted as part of a neo-Nazi network with close ties to the right-wing terrorist National Socialist Underground.
Two German fighter jets collide in midair during practice flight
By Marianne Arens, 28 June 2019
Following the collision of two fighter planes, which resulted in the death of one pilot, German media outlets expressed their outrage at the lack of patriotism in the response of the population.
EU powers build joint “Future Combat Air System”
European Union rearms for World War III
By Johannes Stern, 21 June 2019
At the Le Bourget air show the defence ministers of Germany, France and Spain signed major agreements to develop a joint European air combat system.
Left Party to enter state government in West Germany for the first time
By Peter Schwarz, 17 June 2019
Following the recent defeat of the SPD and Greens in Bremen, the Left Party is securing both parties a majority and joining the state government to continue their despised policies.
German police threaten climate change protesters
By Harold Hambacher, 17 June 2019
Police are treating youth concerned about climate change like criminals.
German parliament passes draconian deportation law
By Peter Schwarz, 12 June 2019
The new law against refugees and immigrants is an integral part of an attack on the democratic rights of the entire working class.
Germany: Investigation into October Festival bombing to be concluded
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 4 June 2019
After the bombing attack, the investigating authorities sought to bury the links between the bomber and neo-Nazi and far right terrorist networks.
Pompeo visit exposes deepening tensions between Germany and US
By Peter Schwarz, 3 June 2019
In his visit to Berlin, US Secretary of State Pompeo reiterated long-standing differences and restated Washington's threats against Germany.
Bavarian State Regiment
German government prepares troops for domestic missions
By Tino Jacobson and Peter Schwarz, 18 May 2019
With the pilot project of a Bavarian “state regiment,” the German federal government is secretly and unconstitutionally creating an armed homeland security force.
The German ruling class fears the spectre of socialism
By Johannes Stern, 6 May 2019
What the ruling class fears is the growing social and political opposition of workers and young people, which is breaking out in Germany, Europe and around the world.
German government backs attempted right-wing coup in Venezuela
By Johannes Stern, 3 May 2019
In a joint press release with the far-right Brazilian government, the German Foreign Ministry gave its unconditional backing to the criminal attempted coup in Venezuela.
Germany’s IT Security Act 2.0: Another step towards a police state
By Wolfgang Weber, 22 April 2019
The German government’s new legislation must be seen in connection with the arrest of Julian Assange and his imminent extradition to the US.
German government adopts new law to expand immigrant deportations
By Peter Schwarz, 19 April 2019
With its new law, the grand coalition is in effect enforcing the far-right policies of the Alternative for Germany.
German parliament celebrates 70 years of NATO and demands escalation of military rearmament
By Johannes Stern, 10 April 2019
Politicians from the governing and opposition parties took turns in hailing the largest military alliance in history and demanded an escalation of German rearmament.
Germany assumes UN Security Council chair while accelerating rearmament
By Johannes Stern, 4 April 2019
Germany, which began a two-year term on the UN Security Council at the New Year, took over as chair of the body on Monday.
German government wants its own aircraft carrier
By Johannes Stern, 18 March 2019
The current German grand coalition’s military and rearmament plans leave no doubt that the ruling class is preparing once again for large-scale warfare.
Socialist Equality Party April meeting series: “The Threat of Fascism and How to Fight it”
Christoph Vandreier, German Trotskyist and prominent opponent of fascism, to speak in US
By our reporters, 5 March 2019
Vandreier is the deputy national secretary of the Sozialistiche Gleichheitspartei (SGP) and author of the newly published book, Why are They Back? Historical Falsification, Political Conspiracy and the Return of Fascism in Germany.
Secret Service barred from making probe of far-right Alternative for Germany public
By Peter Schwarz, 4 March 2019
The Cologne Administrative Court has banned the Secret Service from publicly designating the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a “test case,” its lowest level of scrutiny.
New revelations of right-wing terrorist network in German army
By Gregor Link, 22 February 2019
A former member of the German army’s elite Commando Special Forces confirmed that a terrorist network within the German state apparatus is planning the murder of political opponents and a fascist revolt for “Day X.”
Imperialist conflicts dominate Munich Security Conference
By Peter Schwarz, 18 February 2019
The Munich Security Conference, which ended yesterday, laid bare a capitalist world order rapidly breaking apart and heading for disaster.
Munich Security Conference
German defence minister advocates German-European war policy
By Johannes Stern, 16 February 2019
Almost 75 years after the end of World War II, the imperialist powers are openly preparing for a new round of military conflicts.
Munich Security Conference overshadowed by rising great power conflicts
By Peter Schwarz, 15 February 2019
The conference will be dominated by the preparations of the US and its allies for war against Russia and China, and the deepening conflicts between the Western allies.
Germany: Social Democrats modernise austerity
By Peter Schwarz, 13 February 2019
The SPD passed the “Hartz IV” laws 14 years ago, implementing welfare “reforms” and laying the foundations for a huge low-pay sector and widespread poverty.
German army initiates military cooperation with Deutsche Bahn railway company
By Tino Jacobson, 12 February 2019
The railway company, 100 percent of which is controlled by the federal state, is increasingly being subordinated to the needs of German militarism and imperialism.
AfD deputy denounces a Holocaust commemoration in German parliament
By Christoph Vandreier, 7 February 2019
Seventy-four years after the liberation of Auschwitz, the crimes of the Nazi regime are being downplayed in the German Bundestag (parliament) without triggering any significant protest.
German defence report sparks hysterical campaign for increased military spending
By Johannes Stern, 2 February 2019
The ruling class and its parties are pursing massive rearmament plans and preparing Germany for war.
German SPD politician justifies murder of Rosa Luxemburg
By Peter Schwarz, 18 January 2019
Although the SPD continues to officially deny its complicity in the murder of Luxemburg and Liebknecht, Wolfgang Thierse, former president of the federal parliament, has now declared: We would do it again.
Right-wing Humboldt University Professor Jorg Baberowski threatens students
By the IYSSE at Humboldt University, 17 January 2019
Baberowski is using his Twitter and Facebook accounts to incite his right-wing periphery against students who criticize his racist and reactionary statements.
Germany deports more refugees to Afghanistan
By Marianne Arens, 11 January 2019
On Monday night, a further 36 refugees were deported to Kabul, including a number who had lived and worked for years in Germany and had no idea they were at risk.
Socialist Equality Party takes legal action against surveillance by German secret service
By the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, 10 January 2019
Dr. Peer Stolle, the lawyer for the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, has submitted formal notice in writing to the German Federal Agency for the Protection of the Constitution, which is published here.
German media demand accelerated rearmament
By Peter Schwarz, 7 January 2019
Editorials in leading German publications are marked by a mixture of fear and aggression as the new year begins.
Scuffles in German city of Amberg exploited to incite right-wing campaign
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, 5 January 2019
Politicians from Bavaria and Berlin have been lining up to outdo each other with proposals for more restrictive asylum laws.
German army plans recruitment of EU foreigners
By Johannes Stern, 3 January 2019
Berlin is now using the lack of prospects and sheer desperation of young people to recruit cannon fodder for the German war policy.
German AfD parliamentarian joins weapons drill of far-right group in South Africa
By Johannes Stern, 31 December 2018
Petr Bystron, an AfD member of the Bundestag, took part in shooting exercises of the far-right paramilitary “Suidlanders” during an official parliamentary trip to South Africa.
Germany’s Der Spiegel spreads fake news
By Peter Schwarz, 27 December 2018
Der Spiegel has responded to the revelation that it spread invented "news" with an admission of guilt, self-pity and attempts to shift the blame.
European powers condemn Trump’s withdrawal from Syria
By Johannes Stern, 24 December 2018
Trump’s planned withdrawal of US troops from Syria and the subsequent resignation of defence secretary James Mattis have provoked a fierce response from European leaders.
Neo-Nazi network in the German police force
By Peter Schwarz, 20 December 2018
The ruling class is promoting and covering up for extreme right-wing forces in the police.
Fascist cell uncovered in German police force
By Marianne Arens, 19 December 2018
Evidence has emerged that a neo-fascist cell active in the German police has threatened immigrant families and their children.
German army to acquire new tank battalion
By Johannes Stern, 13 December 2018
The expansion of its tank divisions is part of Germany’s comprehensive plans for the upgrading of all of its military forces.
Merkel backs Ukrainian provocations against Russia
By Peter Schwarz, 1 December 2018
Chancellor Angela Merkel has sharply attacked Russia at the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum, declaring that Putin is fully responsible for the present conflict.
German grand coalition government passes war budget
By Johannes Stern, 27 November 2018
On November 14, Germany’s grand coalition government passed a bill that will increase the country’s military budget by a massive 12 percent.
Follow the WSWS