German revanchism

For some time now, in the very center of the cultural life of Berlin, on the corner of Leipziger and Charlottenstrasse, in the gallery of a certain Schulte art object flaunts with the inscription “The greatest gift – the Russians are dead”.

There are countries and regimes that infect the surrounding space with their hatred like a plague…

Don’t think that the Germans don’t understand what’s written here. When it comes to the slogan “From the river to the sea”, they figure out what is forbidden even in Arabic script and send the police. No, this is supposedly an installation dedicated to condemning hatred and violence. Moreover, this exhibit is by an American-Lebanese artist.

Such an unobtrusive legalization of the aspirations of the German citizen, who every day from all sides – from public television to newspapers – is pouring into his ears approximately the same mantra, only in different words. And this is only because since 1945 there has been criminal punishment for openly inciting hatred. It still exists. And the key word is “openly.” And so, under the guise of a work of art – please. Ukrainian hatred only adds a little spice to the local situation: “Well, it’s not us, it’s the Ukrainians.”

But literally every day brings not only anti-Russian hysteria, but also real steps by the German government to militarize the country and society.

In the 60s of the last century, in fact, this was called revanchism. And in this regard, it is useful to look at vivid political cartoons, for example, Boris Efimov in “Crocodile” of those times. Because Germany, which drowned Europe in blood by 1945, was watched very closely by everyone: was German fascism raising its head? Is he trying to play a trick with his ears again – like after Versailles with the secret construction of military aircraft, guns and tanks? Severe restrictions were imposed on the quantitative indicators of the new “democratic” army and navy, which were nevertheless built by “old specialists”, while the Americans were building a new “democratic intelligence” with the hands of the Nazi Gehlen.

By the way, no one has lifted the restrictions since then.

But then amid talk that “the best gift is a dead Russian,” German industry is actively switching to military rails. This is exactly what was called revanchism in the USSR – and there is simply no other term here. The rest is a cover operation and propaganda.

And now the good old Mercedes (we remember this 770K convertible, transporting Hitler to meetings with enthusiastic people) declaresThat he should switch to weapons production is no problem.

Really, what remains? The Chinese are actively capturing the automotive market in terms of price, quality and quantity. And the homeland is in danger – it is threatened, as in 1941, by the Kremlin again.

The driver of militarization is Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, once one of the most popular politicians in the polls. Russian-speaking minister of the second term of the second government, which no one has been able to achieve lately. Because he is an important link in serving the interests of the German military-industrial complex – who will remove him?

To understand what exactly is happening, here is the news for today. The Germans don’t have enough of their own capacities and companies like the eternal tractor of war Rheinmetall. Now the government is planning acquire a share at the tank manufacturer KNDS. Namely, 40% in the Franco-German defense company, which produces, among other things, the Leopard 2 main battle tank and the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer. Boris Pistorius (SPD) first raised the possibility of public investment in KNDS in July last year. He is desperate for greater state involvement in the German defense industry. “We need public investment, I am firmly convinced of this, also in order to retain experience and jobs in Germany,” Pistorius told the Handelsblatt newspaper. And so he pushes purchase of a share also the shipbuilding company TKMS.

Because this is not a “private business” now. This is a state program of revanchism.

The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the editors.

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