Civil society in Germany is fiercely debating Ukraine

Ever since Russia launched the war against Ukraine, the German government has faced persistent demands in the local media and from Ukraine, which have prevailed over other tones: to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, not just defensive weapons, in the war against Russia. Especially from Ukraine, through its ambassador to Germany, there has been public pressure: for Ukraine to be given exactly the weapons it demands from Germany: e.g. tanks, aircraft, etc. So that Germany is not content with just the 1.2 billion euros it has recently promised Ukraine to buy weapons.

Despite the criticism, Germany has focused on NATO’s stance on the type of armaments. But even in this context, according to the Kiel Institute for World Economy (IfW), based on Gross Domestic Product, the aid that Germany has given to Ukraine is much greater than the aid they have given e.g. Great Britain, France, Spain and Italy. In absolute terms, German aid in the Ukraine conflict of 3.5 billion euros is passed only by the US, with 10.3 billion euros.

In any case, on April 28, the German Bundestag decided by an overwhelming majority to send heavy German weapons to Ukraine. The decision was made to send, among others, Marder tanks, which have special anti-aircraft cannons, self-propelled howitzers and other heavy weapons.

But this change of attitude has caused protests among some intellectuals in Germany. 28 personalities, well-known writers like Martin Walser and Juli Zeh, renowned professors like Reinhard and Wolfgang Merkel, journalists, cabaretists demanded in an open letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz to stop “sending large quantities of heavy weapons” to Ukraine .

The signatories argue their demand with the fear that a Third World War could break out. They argue that sending heavy weapons could serve as a pretext for Putin to draw NATO countries into a war. The signatories appreciate the cautious attitude of the German government so far. They condemn “Russian aggression as a violation of the basic norm of international law.” The signatories further urge the German government “to do its utmost to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.” The letter was published on April 29 in Emma magazine, by renowned journalist and feminist Alice Schwarzer.

Fierce public debate over the open letter

A strong debate has started since the publication of the letter, especially on social media. The open letter, posted online as a petition on the global platform change.org, has been signed by more than 200,000 people.

But on the other hand, for many critics the letter is a slap in the face to the Ukrainian people. Because, according to them, denies the reality of the situation. Critics accuse the signatories of “losing every moral compass.” Renowned musician Wolfgang Müller recently spoke of a “pure reversal of the author / victim relationship.” Not only that: on Wednesday (04.05.), In the newspaper Die Zeit was published a second open letter: in the opposite direction.

In the letter, initiated by former Greens politician Ralph Fücks, 57 intellectuals called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to “quickly implement the Bundestag resolution on arms shipments to Ukraine.” Prominent German figures from the media, academia, and politics, including Nobel laureate Herta Müller and writer Eva Menasse, pianist Igor Levit, and liberal politician Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, President of the German Pen Center Denis Yücelö “Anyone who wants a negotiated peace that goes beyond Ukraine’s submission to Russia’s demands must strengthen (Ukraine’s) defense capabilities. “And to weaken Russia’s combat capability as much as possible.”

Debate not along the left / right front lines

In the 2015 refugee wave, the debate took place more or less across the left / right fronts. But since the pandemic, the fronts have been mixed. They pass between the defenders of the desire for freedom, who view the state with skepticism on the one hand, and the reservists, who think that the state protects them better with an withdrawn attitude, on the other. Now conservatives, liberals, radical ecologists, liberal ecologists are signing together on the same side. You see them on the one hand as supporters and opponents of sending heavy weapons to Ukraine.

The shock of traditional friend-enemy schemes in public discourse in Germany some observers view positively. The epochal turn, which occurred with the unimaginable act in Germany, with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, offers an opportunity to move away from the traditionally consumed left / right debate. This turn creates the conditions for an intellectual reorientation in Germany.

Public support for heavy weapons for Ukraine

In recent weeks, German public opinion seems to have seen increased support for sending weapons to Ukraine. In a Forschungsgruppe Wahlen poll published by ZDF, this support reached 56 percent, from 31 percent in March. Other surveys give a more balanced picture. According to a poll conducted by the Infratest Dimap institute for ARD-DeutschlandTrend, 45% are in favor and as many are against Germany supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons.

Politics in Germany now has a determined stance to support Ukraine with heavy weapons and works to orient the public.

The German Minister of Economy and Climate, Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens), called in an interview “vulgar pacifism” the attitude of Alice Schwarzer and others. “What results from this argument?” Habeck asked. In fact, only a small amount of occupation, rape and execution should simply be accepted and Ukraine should capitulate quickly. “I do not think it is right.”

While Chancellor Olaf Scholz said radical pacifism is “out of date”, it is outdated. At a trade union rally in Düsseldorf on May 1, Scholz was previously called a belligerent. But he told the rally participants that “we will not allow the borders to be forcibly displaced and the territories to be occupied.” This is imperialism, he said. The German chancellor said he would continue to support Ukraine “including helping it defend itself by supplying it with weapons.”

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