Rheinmetall's disarmament training camp in Cologne faces potential closure
In the heart of the Rhine-Ruhr armaments metropolis, activists are preparing for the annual "Rheinmetall Disarm" action week, scheduled from August 25 to 31, 2025, in Cologne. The event, aimed at raising awareness about arms policy and anti-war activism, is facing a potential ban by the Cologne assembly authority, yet organizers remain undeterred.
Last year, "Rheinmetall Disarm" made headlines for blocking the operation of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in Kassel, leading to a confrontation with the police. Similar clashes occurred in Kiel in 2024, with both sides blaming each other for the escalation. In Kassel, the police used pepper spray and batons during the confrontation.
The planned events for the action week include a warm-up solidarity film screening on July 23, 2025, and ongoing camp preparations as of July 24, 2025[1][2]. However, there is no recent information confirming that the Cologne assembly authority has officially banned the action week or that it has been canceled.
Lawyer Nils Spörkel has criticized the threatened ban, stating it lacks a serious, fact-based foundation and is a matter of concern for the erosion of fundamental rights. The ban is based on previous actions and the content of a call by the antimilitarist coalition for disobedient demonstrations and direct actions.
The coalition views the potential ban as a political attack in legal form. They believe the ban lacks a serious, fact-based foundation and is a sign of the erosion of fundamental rights. The Cologne assembly authority is considering a ban on the camp due to perceived disorderliness and threat to public safety.
This year's camp is scheduled to take place in Cologne from August 26 to 31, with a "big parade" with floats planned to conclude the action week at a recruitment center of the German army. Alongside individual politicians from the Left Party, several organizations are calling for the parade, including the Association of Democratic Doctors, the left-wing alliance Interventionist Left, and the online news service LabourNet Germany.
It is important to note that the city of Cologne is currently developing one of the most significant European armaments projects: the German-French Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project. The group "Rheinmetall Disarm" organizes an annual camp focusing on arms policy and anti-war activism.
As the action week approaches, the outcome remains uncertain. The activists continue to organize and promote the events, indicating that the action week is expected to take place as planned. However, any changes or updates regarding the potential ban will be closely monitored.
[1] [Source Link 1] [2] [Source Link 2]
- Despite the threat of a ban from the Cologne assembly authority, organizers of the "Rheinmetall Disarm" action week are undeterred, planning to hold their annual camp focused on arms policy and anti-war activism in Cologne from August 26 to 31, 2025.
- Activists have also planned a "big parade" with floats to conclude the action week at a recruitment center of the German army, gaining support from various organizations and individual politicians, including the Association of Democratic Doctors, the Interventionist Left, and LabourNet Germany.
- The planned events on social media and general news platforms have sparked controversy, with the Cologne assembly authority considering a ban due to perceived disorderliness and threat to public safety, while the coalition views it as a political attack in legal form, critiquing its lack of serious, fact-based foundation and potential erosion of fundamental rights.
