"Camvirtualship" brings back memories for Merz from his military days
Memories of Military Service Recollected by Merz
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the only chancellor to have served in the German Armed Forces, looked back fondly on his time as a conscript in a recent interview. "I have fond memories of my time in the German Armed Forces," Merz told "Bild am Sonntag".
The 1970s saw Friedrich Merz train as a tank artillery soldier in the German military. Despite an unfortunate injury that hindered his progress, the camaraderie and sense of purpose he experienced remain with him to this day. "The community brought us together, we had a great camaraderie," Merz reminisced. "We had the good feeling of contributing to a larger whole."
From Field Howitzers to Flag JunkerMerz's journey through the ranks took him from operating field howitzers to assuming the lowest officer candidate rank, that of a flag junker. While his planned training as a reserve officer was cut short by his injury, his time in the army remains a cherished part of his personal history.
A History of Leaders and ServiceComparatively, some of Germany's previous chancellors have not shared this military background. Olaf Scholz did civilian service, Angela Merkel, as a woman, was not subject to conscription. Gerhard Schröder was exempt from military service due to his status as the only son of a father killed in World War II. Among the country's leaders, only Friedrich Merz can claim a direct connection to the German Armed Forces.
In light of ongoing debates about the potential reintroduction of conscription, Merz's experiences offer a unique perspective. As the only former conscript in a long line of German leaders, Merz remains an outlier in the political landscape.
- Friedrich Merz
- Conscription
- German Armed Forces
- As a former conscript in the German Armed Forces, Friedrich Merz shares insights on community policy, employment policy, and vocational training, emphasizing the sense of purpose and camaraderie that he experienced during his service.
- With politics and general-news often debating the potential reintroduction of conscription, Friedrich Merz's unique experiences from his time in the German Army provide a valuable point of view, being the only former conscript among the line of German leaders.
