Active and former soldiers of Germany’s armed forces will for the first time be honoured for their service with a full-fledged National Veterans Day.
The central event will take place in Berlin on Sunday, around the Reichstag parliament building under the patronage of its president Julia Klöckner, as lawmakers decided a year ago.
The day will be celebrated in many cities and Bundeswehr bases throughout Germany.
Henceforth, June 15 will be celebrated annually on the nearest weekend.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more attention has been paid to the military in Germany, setting aside some of the stigma associated with the country’s involvement in the two World Wars.
There is also fresh perspective on Germany’s participation in NATO and UN missions for the past 25 years, including in Afghanistan, where 59 members of the Bundeswehr lost their lives between 2001 and 2021.
Around 10 million Germans have done military service or were professional or regular soldiers. Around 500,000 men and women were deployed in Afghanistan, Mali or Bosnia-Herzegovina among other places.
“Our veterans have earned the support, recognition and respect of us all,” said Klöckner ahead of the occasion.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/germany-holding-first-tribute-for-military-personnel-c-19040420
