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Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, recently got the all-clear for a massive increase in investment after parliament voted to exempt defence spending from strict rules on debt.

The country's top general has told the BBC the cash boost is urgently needed because he believes Russian aggression won't stop at Ukraine.

"We are threatened by Russia. We are threatened by Putin. We have to do whatever is needed to deter that," Gen Carsten Breuer says. He warns that Nato should be braced for a possible attack in as little as four years.

"It's not about how much time I need, it's much more about how much time Putin gives us to be prepared," the defence chief says bluntly. "And the sooner we are prepared the better."

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[-] archonet@lemy.lol 157 points 2 weeks ago

for the first time, Germany possibly gets to be the "good guys" in a world war! Quite a turnaround.

[-] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 91 points 2 weeks ago

With the Putin-loving, fascist AfD as the second strongest party in the country? We will see, but I do not have high hopes.

[-] archonet@lemy.lol 55 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I'd like to believe they'll kick the Nazis out of the bar before they reach the levers of true power, but I'm American and you see how well having that naive hope went for us.

Having said that, I imagine the Germans are at least slightly more cognizant of the risks involved than we are. Difference between "It can't happen here!" and "It has already happened here and it was bad."

[-] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 30 points 2 weeks ago

Having said that, I imagine the Germans are at least slightly more cognizant of the risks involved than we are.

Yeah one would think so, huh? But nope, right now nothing points to that. The last government declined to start the banning process against the AfD even tho the chances of success would have been really high. And that was a coalition of basically the labor party (as far as they think of themselves at least), the greens and some neo-lib shitheads. With the conservative government of right now? Lmao fat chance.

[-] Djehngo@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

So my understanding is that they are the second strongest, but still at around 20% the other German parties formed a coalition that froze Afd out of power. So they are still a threat in future elections, but they have limited impact on policy for now.

Is that correct or have I got the wrong idea?

[-] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 9 points 2 weeks ago

Mostly correct yes. The main danger lies in future elections.

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[-] FatTony@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago

I mean, were they really The Bad Guys™ in WW1?

[-] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 34 points 2 weeks ago

From what I understand about WW1, it was just a huge clusterfuck

[-] squishy@lemmy.zip 28 points 2 weeks ago

If they won they wouldn't be.

[-] wieson@feddit.org 24 points 2 weeks ago

From my point of view, everyone was the Bad Guys in ww1.

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[-] Boxscape@lemmy.sdf.org 22 points 2 weeks ago

for the first time, Germany possibly gets to be the "good guys" in a world war! Quite a turnaround.

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[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

Germany on track for the greatest redemption arc of all time lmao

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[-] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 95 points 2 weeks ago

Good article.

I appreciate that this was the photo the bbc chose to express German concern over US Russian relations;

[-] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 66 points 2 weeks ago

I also see Putin as quite very

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[-] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 94 points 2 weeks ago

Germany, Italy, and Japan go to war against Russia and the US. Only this time the former group is the Good Guys.

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 36 points 2 weeks ago

Pearl Harbour 2 is gonna be sick

[-] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

Starring Cuba Gooding Junior Jr.

[-] 3laws@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

Italy has a grotesque far right wave RN, they are not the good guys still. Japan is not progressive enough compared to Germany, but I can believe Germany is far removed from being as much as a bad guy compared to the USA & Russia today.

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[-] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 82 points 2 weeks ago

It feels a bit weird being on the German side for once, also their track record of succeeding isn't that great, but I love our neighbors and I fully support them.

I'm just, sad the world is falling into another world war while we also just could be more kind and forgiving towards each other. It would save a lot of lives and leads of pain and agony.

[-] Beetschnapps@lemmy.world 35 points 2 weeks ago

None of this would have been necessary if it wasn’t for republicans.

[-] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 31 points 2 weeks ago

Not just republicans. Democrats in the US are right wing too. The entire country is fucked up, the reps just speed up the process exponentially. But don't forget the most immigrants who have been thrown out was during Obama and Biden. Biden supported Israel too, with loads of weapons.

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[-] realitista@lemm.ee 23 points 2 weeks ago

Their success rate would have been a lot higher if they had known when to stop ;-). I think if the stated goal of defending Europe from Russia doesn't change that they have a very good chance of success given the numbers they are talking about.

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[-] LittleBorat3@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago

So yes forgiving and all that. Here are the steps: 1 Putin removes his troops from the occupied territories 2 he apologizes 3 maybe someone forgives him.

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[-] TylerBourbon@lemmy.world 69 points 2 weeks ago

I don't see this as Germany leaving history in the past, but being smart to protect their future so the that the lessons of the past mean something.

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[-] Phoenix3875@lemmy.world 53 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

A bit concerning if an AfD take-over can't be completely ruled out.

[-] rippersnapper@lemm.ee 16 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah I’m a bit tired of bought out politicians dismantling a country from the inside.

Probably the biggest loophole that HAS to be fixed!

[-] madcaesar@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

The biggest problem with democracy is that voting isn't mandatory, and 25% of any population is dumb as bricks.

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[-] Naevermix@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago

This is not just about security, this is about safeguarding the last bastions of real democracy.

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[-] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 27 points 2 weeks ago

I feel like this is a good idea but I also saw what Germany did to Brazil in that World Cup and there needs to be a plan for them going too far and hurting people just for living.

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[-] FuckFascism@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago

Misleading title ass click bait type shit.

[-] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 19 points 2 weeks ago

It took them four years to get the hint, but they got there in the end.

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[-] kandoh@reddthat.com 17 points 2 weeks ago

What the hell is with the Germans and austerity? They've been holding their own country back for over 15 years

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[-] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

What choice do we have? I would focus on improving everything for the regulars and copy the Finnish reserve system.

[-] MITM0@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

Just don't draft people & you good. A drafted military never fights well

[-] Bashnagdul@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe, but a drafted one fights better than one that doesn't exist.

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this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2025
808 points (98.0% liked)

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