this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2025
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In a survey in June by the Forsa Institute, only 17 percent of Germans said they would defend their country if attacked.

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[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 17 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

What a survey, hell, I am surprised (s/).

It is not only Germany that has "long sought to extinguish the militarism that fueled its calamitous history during World War II," but also other countries. In Russia, the country which started a brutal and unprovoked war in Europe after decades of peace, soldiers’ mothers have long been a thorn in the Kremlin’s side.

First Russian grassroots organizations of soldiers’ mothers to bring their sons home are known to have started in the 1980s during the USSR’s occupation of Afghanistan, and has been continuing their work to this day. The Human Rights Organization “Soldiers’ Mothers of Saint-Petersburg” is one example.

The difference is that in the West, these organizations and every individual can openly speak out against the war, while in autocracies like Russia you can't. A report like the one linked here would be immediately censored, with the author likely facing long imprisonment.

Which mother or father wants their children to go to war? Do Putin's children fight in the war in Ukraine? His backers' children? What a title.

It is really like someone has said long time ago:

“One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”

Addition:

Russian officials criticised for giving meat grinders to mothers of soldiers killed in Ukraine

[–] Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Russian officials criticised for giving meat grinders to mothers of soldiers killed in Ukraine

This is just cartoonishly evil. What the actual fuck?

[–] SkyezOpen@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago

Might've legitimately been an attempt to alter search results.

[–] Tudsamfa@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago

If east Germany loves Putin so much, let Russia rule them once more.

I'm not fighting Russia for them. No matter how hopeless the economic situation, they made their bed and can now lie in it.

And to be honest CDU politicians aren't much better. In the 6 months they have shown once more that their only loyalties are to the party and the stock market, not the country or the people.

[–] Kazel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 12 hours ago

Merz soll vor gehen. Ab an die Front mit ihm

[–] PowerChopper@lemmy.world 6 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Most people in Western countries don't want to die because they can now openly see how stupid it really is in most cases.

I'm sure many would join if their country needs defending, but I can't see many people wanting to join before that.

[–] takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 12 hours ago

Which is ironic, because another (less spoken) reason of NATO and building the army is to scare the opponent so it will think it is not worth to attack.

The mere fact of taco saying that the US won't help in case of attack from Russia increased chances of a war.

Well my country has obligatory military service sooo….

[–] Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

The second they give me a gun and tell me to go to war, I'll be Private Pyle.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 10 points 17 hours ago (3 children)

Turns out the working class don't want to be pawns and cannon fodder for megalomaniacs, oligarchs, fascists, narcissists, or a military industrial complex.

Who would have thought?

[–] takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 12 hours ago

Right, because Ukrainians had a choice. It was either surrender and be exterminated or fight.

No one in Europe wants to be at war and prefers to concentrate on economy, but if one side goes full imperialism the only thing is to be prepared for war and hope they will decide that is not worth to attack.

[–] crimeschneck@sopuli.xyz 3 points 15 hours ago

Are Ukrainian soldiers also "pawns and cannon fodder for megalomaniacs, oligarchs, fascists, narcissists, or a military industrial complex"?

[–] atro_city@fedia.io 2 points 16 hours ago

Unless you control them (see Russia and North Korea).

[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 9 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Draft incoming in 2-5 years, MMW.

[–] takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 12 hours ago

They might not even have that much time

[–] plyth@feddit.org 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

A bit in jest but everything is TikTok consumerism. Which country but North Korea taking over would make a difference for the average citizen? Billionaires would lose their businesses, others would win. Why care who of them wins?

[–] Maalus@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago

Russia takes over and genocides the population living there. So does Israel.

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

so glad i am old and crippled now - i dont have governments telling me i should murder poor people to make rich people richer.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 5 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

The demographics of the Russian troops in Ukraine is pretty tragic. A lot of them are over 40.

And most of them are marginalised minority groups.

It’s why as much as I am fiercly pro ukraine, I really have trouble watching someone die in a video and celebrate it even if they are imperialist troops.

[–] atro_city@fedia.io 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

“Younger people don’t really see the purpose of why they should put their lives at risk for Germany,” said Aylin Matlé, a fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

Defend what, actually? A bunch of nazi voters?

[–] crimeschneck@sopuli.xyz 1 points 15 hours ago

Defend what, actually? A bunch of nazi voters?

The majority (of Germans) who are not nazi voters, assuming I understand you correctly and you mean AfD and other far-right wing parties.

[–] ThePiedPooper@discuss.online -2 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Someone has to do it. It would be wise for parents to get with the program and understand that.

[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 8 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Bro, war is not a necessity. Don't treat it as one.

[–] ahornsirup@feddit.org 8 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Defending ourselves and our allies may sadly be a necessity in the not too distant future. Thank Putin.

[–] OfCourseNot@fedia.io 7 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Defending myself and going to war sound like complete opposites to me.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

An organized, disciplined military is more effective at defending against an organized, disciplined military.

Something along the Swedish or Finnish model creates an effective home defense with limited capability for offensive action.

[–] OfCourseNot@fedia.io 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

An organized, disciplined military is more effective at defending against an organized, disciplined military.

That's true. The thing is: defending what? The country? The government? The king? Going to war is trading my (relative) safety for theirs, and I've never been too fond of them really.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago

I totally get that. I don’t like them either.

If you ask most soldiers what they were fighting for they wouldn’t say those things. They’d say they were fighting for the guy next to them.

I’d imagine if the Russians started rolling tanks down your streets it would hit different.

[–] huppakee@feddit.nl 3 points 14 hours ago

You are right, your indivudual chances of survival increase by not enlisting as a soldier. At the same time, our collective chances of survival (that includes your parents, children, etc) decrease when young people walk away from the fight.

[–] ThePiedPooper@discuss.online 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Tell that to all of human history.

[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 1 points 12 hours ago

Maybe I'm just a naive dumbass, but I happen to hold the belief that the world can get better.

[–] OfCourseNot@fedia.io 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Be my fucking guest! You and your children can go enlisting, I just have to do this thing and will be right behind you...

[–] Regna@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

Ensure that you and your kids have dual citizenship.