Top story were following for you here today at the w. News reports say that Service PresidentOmar Al Bashir has stepped down after thirty years of rule thousands of protesters against him have been gathering outside Party Headquarters state media announced that a statement by the military is imminent. Coming up next we have a documentary film for you germanys military the question being what will become of the bun is found and more still to come here. Heres whats coming up for the book going to sleep you have plenty to talk about here one day theyll be you know its cut take a look at what all that means for the table of course. The bundesliga every
weekend here on t. W. The despair is in a crisis understaffed overworked and ill equipped the soldiers are frustrated. As were talking to soldiers sometimes feel like the cinderella of the nation to be. The bone despair has been shaken by repeated scandals officers abuse their power and right wing activities among the soldiers are not reported the. Defense minister. Is under pressure. Like one. Because the german army lost its sense of direction. Good job with good morning squad. Eyes front at ease
a little as. Hardly any other publicly funded institution costs germany so much but has as many problems as the despair. The government needs to ask itself what kind of armed forces it wants. Hons pay to buffalos is the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces in a report to parliament he sharply criticized the budget cuts and poor management of the past years and described troops as stretched to their limits well yeah conditions for soldiers have become difficult there are too many shortages they dont have enough comrades if you meaning personnel get they have to do the work of three people. Theres not enough equipment essential Training Programs cant be provided and currently were in the midst of a Reorientation Process in terms of the purpose of the bundeswehr this. Because
they want to. What is the purpose of the buddhist their National Defense or Combat Missions abroad. German troops have been taking part in International Missions for more than twenty five years now for the past six years in mali in Western Africa its currently one of the bull despairs most dangerous deployments although the german soldiers in mali have no combat role. Going on there are calls for the blue despair to take on more and more responsibilities around the globe. Germany currently has soldiers on fifteen Foreign Missions from afghanistan to the baltic to mali. And. Since the end of conscription in germany the need for young recruits has. Lone
along with many new tasks and overseas missions make the soldiers jobs more dangerous but soldiers dont make much money despite their growing Duty Bachmann says they could earn more in the private sector. Then if the economy continues to expand financial incentives to join the blenders fair wont suffice if anything can attract young people it has to be that its a good thing to be a soldier for eight or twelve years with a good chance of getting another interesting job afterwards. Thats what we have to work on. And it. The bundeswehr has an Image Problem but instead of Launching Advertising and recruitment campaigns that would broadly appeal it promises adventure and extreme experiences. Must get ready to discover your strengths. To get ready to go to your limit. To get ready for real responsibility. Do what really counts as from. The annual republican conference in berlin attracts thousands of young people interested in Digital Media in twenty eighteen the bundesbank made an attempt to connect here. With. Major marcel born out took part in a number of Foreign Missions first in kosovo then in afghanistan now hes tasked with recruiting a new generation of soldiers he and his team hope to meet the kind of people here that they would like to hire but the republican refused to give the blue despair its own stand at the convention one at is used to this attitude. To be one of the small justification was straightforward no uniforms at the republican and since the republican claims to want to pop the filter bubbles we say ok rainbow colors also include green which is why we should be here even if uniforms are not allowed in
and we want to join in the discussion so well do it outside the hall. The room to spare wants to address and recruit highly motivated and well educated Men And Women. And awkward topic for the republican organizers. When this we can buy tickets here and take part in the discussion but they want to be sponsored they want to exhibit themselves they want to do recruiting and we say thats not what the republicans for the bundeswehr can do that elsewhere. But not here im not going to buy one for. A few peace activists started a spontaneous counter action. Ok thats damage to property and thats a criminal offense. Its not like maybe so but this is a public space and this discourse clearly has a lot of money behind it look we can have a discussion no problem but id ask you not to damage the poster was the question
if a republican there was little interest in an exchange of views with soldiers that is a growing problem for the. Me i was scared to turn to you could say that the bun despair is gradually becoming separated from society that has to do with the end of conscription and the fact that Troop Numbers have been going down for years we have vanished from public view by closing down garrisons and were involved in missions abroad that take place without most of society being aware of them or interested in them so we have this tendency and its dangerous because we should be in the midst of society we need backing and inclusion in society we want to be part of it. Because theres also envoy. The distance between soldiers and the rest of society can be seen most clearly in the treatment of veterans of Foreign Missions. This barracks in potsdam houses the Mission Leadership command. Here Assignment Commemoration is taking place for german soldiers killed in action. A soldiers mission can end in death thats part of the job. Soldiers and families have gathered at the field of honor. Alex p. Was badly injured on duty in afghanistan he says hes here to honor his fallen comrades. This is. Its important that the comrades arent forgotten just a person is only really dead when theyre forgotten. They made the ultimate sacrifice their lives or their health for the mission that they were given. The soldier is a special profession and those who carry it out would like to have the complete support of their employers the government and the people. But many say thats precisely what they dont have. Its not a new problem in one Nine Hundred Fifty FiveTrade Unionists youth groups and pacifists protested against the rearmament of postwar west germany and against the founding of the bundeswehr. Didnt fall after the experiences of war violence and the holocaust what other response could there be but no to the military and of course our country now. But despite the protests west german chancellor conrad out in our managed to push the reintroduction of conscription through parliament. I think that i can claim that i am myself and as much an opponent of war as anyone
here in this house. But Ladies And Gentlemen we have to see the world realistically. But in our lead the young federal republic of germany into nato and us into the western camp in the cold war. That came at a price many generals and other officers in the early buddhist there had been World War Two officers in the vat marked. The opening of the German Armed Forces first base and under nothing after a speedy renovation was a historic moment previously has been occupied by french soldiers just as the son of god. Soldiers the german people expect you to carry out your duty and with all your strength. For the supreme goal of ensuring peace together with our allies. Peace was to
be ensured through a military anchored in society yet there were fears of an army that would once again develop into a kind of state within the state. In response a group of officers led by. I vote from biologists and developed the concept of citizens in uniform. In stocks but only from the citizen in Uniform Concept developed from a particular need in germany to disassociate itself from the past it was a concept of discourse aimed at the domestic debate in germany and the schools so they needed these labels that were designed to reconcile Civic Society with the bundeswehr. It was a very german idea. The principle of Civic Education is the transfer of the values and norms of germanys constitution to the military. For a soldier in case of doubt the protection of Human Dignity is to take precedence over obeying orders. And what is the state of Civic Education in the blunders they
are today. Here in bavaria soldiers are gathering for an annual catholic Military Pilgrimage although we are registered journalists are apparently not welcome. If the barracks commander says you cant then you cant. Although the bishop responsible gave us permission to attend the buddhist there continues to stonewall. After talks with the barracks commander the interview with the Military Chaplain can go ahead. Of the morning father patrick how are things what are we doing today. Together with around nine hundred to a thousand soldiers were going to walk eight kilometers on a pilgrimage to the church. That. Father patrick has served in mali and afghanistan as a chaplain he has an insight into the mood in the armed forces. The states and how
is morale among the troops at the moment here. In terms of ethics the fact is that every soldier who goes on a mission has been trained in armed combat and at some point every soldier has to decide for themselves how far and. I prepared to go is this my duty is this my job because everyone who goes on a mission knows they could die there. And with the around Fourteen Thousand german soldiers are deployed on a rotating basis in Foreign Missions or are in training for one cold for one one for the death and injury play a role. In how sensitive our soldiers. Seasons there are as sensitive as anyone else yes theyre being prepared for the situation but the question is what that means for each individual and how each individual deals with it and he was going to. Get. The soldiers that come on the pilgrimage to commemorate their fallen comrades. I mean and i just wrote this this overseas missions are
a topic of heated debate among the german public some people cant see why the blandest bash should have to get involved explaining that is the job of the government but it doesnt always seem to succeed. The chaplain says many soldiers are unhappy about what they see as disinterest about their work from politicians and the general public. Which is the government is soldiers are not necessarily trained as spiders their duty is to carry out certain tasks the paramedic is there as a medical orderly you have to differentiate when where and what theyre doing. Nobody could move if suddenly were interrupted by the Staff Sergeant from the press department he doesnt want the interview to get too political but its a Military Decision that the soldiers go there and that has nothing to do with father patrick. Father patrick do you agree with that. And those odds of you know in a way yes you want to political statement and its not my position to say when where
and how the been despair goes on its missions when its going on since. Thats not what im asking rather the question is how can we anchor soldiers in society. Father patrick is either unable or unwilling to answer that question again press Sergeant Yeager interrupts the interview. You did with me that if you again i would like to ask you to restrict the questions you ask youre welcome to ask about his contact to soldiers on Foreign Missions what problems they have what kind of support or counseling the soldiers need you can ask that but i think. This is it is it a political question when asked what does this Guiding Principle of the citizen in uniform mean to a soldier. Is that too political its a simple split that is a political question that has nothing to do with religion or faith oh ok that is never going to happen not if not yes it seems that
a frank discussion is not wanted to the commissioner for the armed forces hands paid to bottles would disagree he calls for soldiers to be able to voice their opinions unhindered. Then you have to determine whether soldiers in uniform can take part in discussions on Security Policy for example active generals or whether the right way as in recent years is to only let retired soldiers be heard in public. This concept of Civic Education should also encompass the freedom to take part in political discussions about the soldiers own profession their own organization as long as they remain loyal and appropriate. Idea. Yes. I dont. Want everything but the Civic Education concept seems to be too abstract for many soldiers. Especially younger ones. That. Soldiers arent fighting for the constitution maybe later as Staff Officers as a mature individuals but not at the age of twenty thats just a big allusion they fight for their comrades for their missions for some idea of their country yes as patriots but its an illusion to think that they go to Afghanistan For The Constitution afghanistan. Half way to the church the pilgrims take a short break the commanding Brigadier General your exist has a clear notion of Civic Education. What is the general tell soldiers what does Civic Education mean for tall means trust openness respect taking everyone seriously that doesnt mean everyone can do what they want we need orders and obedience but everyone has to know what they stand for our fatherland undoubtedly which they defend bravely as weve sworn to do in some cases on the bible and i expect that of them Civic Education means living that respect trust openness and
being informed i can only take soldiers into a dangerous situation if they know why and the reasons behind it. So the concept of the citizen in uniform presupposes that soldiers in active service have an understanding of what theyre fighting for. But that seems to be lacking how do politicians who decide on the mission see it. The former Training Commander of the German Army Major general knows why german soldiers are sent to fight and possibly die in afghanistan and mali but he says some politicians dont. Ask one of our elected representatives how did you vote in the last parliamentary vote and he said of course were the extension or for this mission and i said now go back to your constituency and explain to voters why were on this mission abroad. Back then it was mainly about afghanistan and he said i dont know i cant explain it so i said youre telling me that your vote could possibly send soldiers to their deaths
and you dont know why are you serious. Is that. Many soldiers feel that back home in germany the population has no idea what they go through on their missions theyre frustrated by the lack of appreciation. Here active and former soldiers who served on International Missions are gathering in front of the German Parliament in berlin. They have come to publicly commemorate their comrades who died in action and draw attention to the problems suffered by veterans of the missions. Many are severely traumatized but they say they have not been given adequate financial compensation. Since One Thousand Nine Hundred Two more than Three Hundred Eighty ThousandMen And Women in the blue square have served on International Missions one hundred eight
were killed in action its estimated that Sixty Thousand of the soldiers returned home psychologically traumatized. First Sergeant Alex p. Has been in the bonus fair since two thousand and three. He was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder after being wounded in afghanistan in a good friday attack. You know to the books and all the Computer People grow up with Computer Games or Hollywood Films where an explosion takes place and the guy gets up and brushes themselves off and makes some cold remark. And so people think thats realities and he it isnt people dont know what its like to be scared to death to be scared for your com