Veteran Day - Boris Pistorius Pays a Visit to Hamburg
First-Ever National Veteran's Day Celebrated Across Germany
Kickstarting a New Era of Recognition and Appreciation
Last Sunday, the nationwide Veteran's Day marked its debut. Old and new soldiers of the Bundeswehr were honored across the country. In Hamburg, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) attended a promotion ceremony at the Rathausmarkt.
During the inaugural nationwide event, around 500 Bundeswehr personnel and approximately 2000 attendees participated in the ceremony at Hamburg's Rathaus, according to police estimates and the Bundeswehr's own estimates of 1500 people on the Rathausmarkt. At the subsequent reception in the Rathaus, over 300 people were said to have been present.
In his speech during the promotion ceremony, Defense Minister Pistorius referred to the members of the Bundeswehr as the backbone of society and the guardians of peace and security in both Germany and Europe. He emphasized that the European way of life, which features freedom, democracy, and prosperity in peace, is under threat. Maintaining peace, security, and stability, he argued, requires "active combat-ready forces."
At the ceremonious occasion, around 400 soldiers from the Helmut Schmidt University of the Bundeswehr were ceremoniously promoted to officers. In his appeal to students, Pistorius urged them, "Don't abandon the freedom of your thoughts."
Tschentscher Strengthens Bundeswehr Presence in Hamburg
Mayor Tschentscher of Hamburg, the city's first mayor, participated in the promotion ceremony at the Hamburg Rathaus. Earlier in the year, he had emphasized the need for collaboration between the city of Hamburg and the Bundeswehr to ensure the crisis-proofness of Hamburg.
During his speech, Tschentscher stressed the importance of defense capabilities in a global crisis-ridden and conflict-prone world where, with Russia's attack on Ukraine, war has once again broken out in Europe. He honored the commitment of the soldiers, who carry a heavy responsibility. It is a great undertaking to establish and maintain the defense capabilities of Germany.
Following the ceremony, Tschentscher invited attendees to a reception at the Rathaus. In his address in the grand ballroom, he made it clear that Hamburg stands with the Bundeswehr – and the Bundeswehr stands with Hamburg.
The Bundeswehr considered the Veteran's Day a complete success. A spokesperson for the Bundeswehr told our website, "The speeches of Tschentscher and Pistorius say everything: The Bundeswehr belongs in the heart of society."
Anti-Militarization Protests in Central Hamburg
Meanwhile, three demonstrations and a spontaneous gathering of 250 protesters took place in various parts of Hamburg to protest public militarization in Germany.
David Stoop from the Hamburg faction Die Linke clarified that the protest was not against veterans, as reported by the NDR. He had registered one of the demonstrations. He is against the rising armament and sees no end to it, nor does it lead to peace.
According to police reports, the events proceeded peacefully and without major disruptions. During a gathering at the Jungfernstieg, a participant shouted "Heil Hitler," and police promptly identified the individual, leading to a ban on attending gatherings for a specified period and an investigation to determine any potential criminal charges.
The German Bundestag designated the 15th of June as Veteran's Day last year. Veteran status is granted to any current or former soldier who has served honorably in the Bundeswehr.
hil/dpa
Chris Hill
Chris Hill – a name you'd expect for a Boyband leader. Music indeed plays a significant part in Chris' life, born in 1993, and he even graced the stage at the Deichbrand Festival as a drummer for a rock band. He grew up in Buxtehude – "up north". He studied Media Management with a focus on Online Communication in Hamburg and later worked for an agency in Duesseldorf, handling media planning and spending plenty of cash. After three more years working for local businesses, he is now ready to venture into journalism. Apart from his journalistic pursuits, Chris is passionate about climate justice and animal welfare. In his spare time, he developed a campaign to raise awareness about the risks of heatwaves for dogs. Codename: hil
- Chris Hill https://ourwebsite/author/chris-hill/Worldwide Movement Against Donald Trump – also in Hamburg
In the realm of general-news, the city of Hamburg has announced a strengthened collaboration with the Bundeswehr to enhance Hamburg's crisis-resilience, as revealed by Mayor Peter Tschentscher during the First-Ever National Veteran's Day Celebration. Meanwhile, aside from the nationwide celebrations, anti-militarization protests occurred in various parts of Hamburg, with participants expressing concerns over rising armament and advocating for peace. The contrasting voices highlight the ongoing politics and sports-free discussions regarding the role and presence of the Bundeswehr in Germany.
