Yet only a few hours before the demonstration in a speech in the Bundestag (federal parliament), Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced that Germany would supply weapons to Ukraine, increase the deployment of troops to the Russian border and triple Germany’s war budget for 2022.
In the speeches, the enormous danger of a third world war, which is threatened by the escalation on the part of NATO, was largely ignored, as well as by many participants.
Not a word was spoken about NATO’s illegal wars or the systematic encirclement of Russia. The call for confrontation with Russia was accompanied by the complete concealment of the background to the attack on Ukraine. “Weapons alone are not enough,” she declared, thus also backing the German government’s arms deliveries to the Ukrainian army. Therefore, gas and oil imports must be stopped, even if that means “shutting down industrial production.” He did not discuss the consequences for jobs and housing costs in Europe.Ĭlimate activist and Green Party politician Luisa Neubauer sang from the same song sheet and called for a shift away from Russian gas, which was financing the war. He declared the war in Ukraine a fight for “democracy” and “our liberal value system.” Waving flags alone would not help, but one had to respond in the only language Putin understood. Verdi service union leader Frank Werneke declared that Germany had the responsibility to “restore the peaceful order.” Therefore, it must now react with tough sanctions, which should not be weakened because of the economic interests of corporations.Ĭhristoph Bautz, executive director of the pro-government organisation Campact, also spoke out in favour of tough sanctions. The fact that we haven’t learned from this is an incredible shame.”īut the demonstration was marked by misunderstanding and political confusion, which was exploited by the organisers to promote an aggressive pro-NATO policy against Russia. We have seen this in the past and it is catching up with us so madly. “We are all human beings, and we should not do this. The war must stop no matter what.” A social worker said that weapons must be laid down. “I am here because I am deeply shocked that something like this is possible in the 21st century,” said a member of the group “Grandmas against the right.” She was “insanely angry at how much money and material is now being wasted on war that we could all need right now for climate protection and for a liveable future.”Īnother participant said, “I am here to express my desire for peace. They carried Ukrainian flags, peace signs and rainbow flags. Many participants were shocked by the Russian attack and came to the demonstration to express their concern about an escalation of the conflict. Well over 100,000 people demonstrated in Berlin on Sunday against the war in Ukraine.
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