SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post

Skybird · 02-14-23, 07:25 PM

Catfish already mentioned it some days ago with one or two sentences.

I say since many years that the Germans not only are incapable to defend but do not even want to be able to defend themsleves. I sometimes said something like that in Germany it is thought that weakness is a virtue, and strength is immoral. I never meant that as an exaggeration, but as fact. America is very strong. That is why anti-amercanism is very strong over here. Because so: America is immoral because it is so strong. Welcome to the tic-tac of German thinking.

Neue Zürcher Zeitung:
-----------------------------

Germans are not only incapable of defense, but also unwilling to defend themselves

Only one in ten Germans would defend their country in the event of an attack. No wonder. Even the term "people" is considered disreputable in the Federal Republic. The same goes for homeland, nation or fatherland.

If François Mitterrand had suspected that Europe's governments would once applaud Germany for an arms buildup announced as a "turn of the times," he probably would not have agreed to the country's reunification in 1990. The idea of a once again great German nation was in any case suspect to the French president at the time. And who could blame the old man? Unlike today's leaders, Mitterrand had personally felt the consequences of German "greatness. Ever since the Wehrmacht's campaign against the West in the summer of 1940, the former infantryman had had a German shell splinter in his body.

Presumably, today's mood towards Germany also has something to do with this: there are hardly any people left who have such shell splinters stuck in their bodies. The fear of German strength seems to have disappeared with all those who once had to experience it as megalomania and Teutonic frenzy. Instead, a strange impatience prevails. When, one reads and hears everywhere, will the Germans finally assume their leadership role? Where are their tanks? No one seems to believe that a revitalized German military could someday pose a threat again.

In contrast, the Germans seem downright recalcitrant. We know this because the country's demoscopes are constantly polling the population on war and peace. Just last week, the Baltics learned that in the event of a Russian invasion, they should not rely on the Germans to give their government legs to defend its NATO partners. The latest survey, commissioned by the German Press Agency, is even more impressive.

When asked how he (or she) would behave in the event of a military attack on Germany, only one in ten adult Germans answered that they would be willing to serve in the war. And only one in twenty would volunteer. A majority would either try to continue living their usual lives (33 percent) or leave the country as quickly as possible (24 percent).

In addition to the often cited lack of military fitness, there is also a lack of will to go to war: Germans do not want to go to war, not even for themselves. They are not completely alone in this respect, but the willingness to defend the homeland is much stronger almost everywhere. In a 2015 Gallup poll, only the Dutch and Japanese were more unwilling. Switzerland was in the middle of the pack with a willingness to fight of 39 percent.

Is it due to the individualization of German society, to a lack of community will? This is the thesis of historian Michael Wolffsohn. Germans are "egotists" who "no longer know the we. There is probably some truth in that. But the real reason is probably different: The Germans are at odds with themselves like no other people, even today.

Even the term "Volk" is considered disreputable by many of them, even if it is emblazoned prominently on the parliament. The same applies to the nation, the homeland or the fatherland. Anyone who hangs a national flag in front of his or her house, as is quite common in other countries, is considered at best a Germanophile simpleton, if not "right-wing". One is a proud Swabian, Hessian, Franconian or Frisian. But proud German? Better not, or at most in soccer. The only accepted patriotism is called "constitutional patriotism. The term can certainly be discussed, but who goes to war for the Basic Law?

In other European countries, the Federal Republic of Germany may be regarded as a normal nation that should finally make a contribution to collective defense commensurate with its size and economic power. But Germany is not a normal country, and the Germans are not normal citizens. Their relationship to themselves is too broken for that - which is understandable in view of the crimes of National Socialism.

One can find this broken relationship right or regret it, but one must take note of it as a fact. Otherwise, the disappointments are programmed. As long as the Germans do not have a clearly more positive relationship to themselves and their country, it will not be possible to wage war together with them, let alone win it. Such a change of consciousness, on the other hand, will not take place overnight. The turnaround, if it becomes anything at all, will be a project of the century.
--------------------------------

02-14-23, 07:25 PM	#1895
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,668 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Catfish already mentioned it some days ago with one or two sentences. I say since many years that the Germans not only are incapable to defend but do not even want to be able to defend themsleves. I sometimes said something like that in Germany it is thought that weakness is a virtue, and strength is immoral. I never meant that as an exaggeration, but as fact. America is very strong. That is why anti-amercanism is very strong over here. Because so: America is immoral because it is so strong. Welcome to the tic-tac of German thinking. Neue Zürcher Zeitung: ----------------------------- *Germans are not only incapable of defense, but also unwilling to defend themselves* Only one in ten Germans would defend their country in the event of an attack. No wonder. Even the term "people" is considered disreputable in the Federal Republic. The same goes for homeland, nation or fatherland. If François Mitterrand had suspected that Europe's governments would once applaud Germany for an arms buildup announced as a "turn of the times," he probably would not have agreed to the country's reunification in 1990. The idea of a once again great German nation was in any case suspect to the French president at the time. And who could blame the old man? Unlike today's leaders, Mitterrand had personally felt the consequences of German "greatness. Ever since the Wehrmacht's campaign against the West in the summer of 1940, the former infantryman had had a German shell splinter in his body. Presumably, today's mood towards Germany also has something to do with this: there are hardly any people left who have such shell splinters stuck in their bodies. The fear of German strength seems to have disappeared with all those who once had to experience it as megalomania and Teutonic frenzy. Instead, a strange impatience prevails. When, one reads and hears everywhere, will the Germans finally assume their leadership role? Where are their tanks? No one seems to believe that a revitalized German military could someday pose a threat again. In contrast, the Germans seem downright recalcitrant. We know this because the country's demoscopes are constantly polling the population on war and peace. Just last week, the Baltics learned that in the event of a Russian invasion, they should not rely on the Germans to give their government legs to defend its NATO partners. The latest survey, commissioned by the German Press Agency, is even more impressive. When asked how he (or she) would behave in the event of a military attack on Germany, only one in ten adult Germans answered that they would be willing to serve in the war. And only one in twenty would volunteer. A majority would either try to continue living their usual lives (33 percent) or leave the country as quickly as possible (24 percent). In addition to the often cited lack of military fitness, there is also a lack of will to go to war: Germans do not want to go to war, not even for themselves. They are not completely alone in this respect, but the willingness to defend the homeland is much stronger almost everywhere. In a 2015 Gallup poll, only the Dutch and Japanese were more unwilling. Switzerland was in the middle of the pack with a willingness to fight of 39 percent. Is it due to the individualization of German society, to a lack of community will? This is the thesis of historian Michael Wolffsohn. Germans are "egotists" who "no longer know the we. There is probably some truth in that. But the real reason is probably different: The Germans are at odds with themselves like no other people, even today. Even the term "Volk" is considered disreputable by many of them, even if it is emblazoned prominently on the parliament. The same applies to the nation, the homeland or the fatherland. Anyone who hangs a national flag in front of his or her house, as is quite common in other countries, is considered at best a Germanophile simpleton, if not "right-wing". One is a proud Swabian, Hessian, Franconian or Frisian. But proud German? Better not, or at most in soccer. The only accepted patriotism is called "constitutional patriotism. The term can certainly be discussed, but who goes to war for the Basic Law? In other European countries, the Federal Republic of Germany may be regarded as a normal nation that should finally make a contribution to collective defense commensurate with its size and economic power. But Germany is not a normal country, and the Germans are not normal citizens. Their relationship to themselves is too broken for that - which is understandable in view of the crimes of National Socialism. One can find this broken relationship right or regret it, but one must take note of it as a fact. Otherwise, the disappointments are programmed. As long as the Germans do not have a clearly more positive relationship to themselves and their country, it will not be possible to wage war together with them, let alone win it. Such a change of consciousness, on the other hand, will not take place overnight. The turnaround, if it becomes anything at all, will be a project of the century. -------------------------------- __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.