As a german: I really am not sure if I want to embed our Bundeswehr into a Europe where Marie LePen might become the head of France, where fascist Melony is ruling Italy and so on.
this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2026
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As a Dane, I do want strong militaries, because given what's happening in Greenland right now we may need to show more strength towards the US... Not to mention Russia and China.
As a French citizen (dual citizen), I am ashamed that LePen is even in consideration for president. We need to work against the billionaires essentially buying fascists into power for their own gains.
Well, tough luck. Germany only has alliance military forces based on your constitution.
And having a military that can actually protect our allies fulfilling exactly that role.
Has every single one of those people loudly lamenting the rise of German military power spend the cold war (or alternatively every history class) unconcious?
Germany had the 2nd biggest military in NATO, far biggest one in Europe for decades... firmly embedded in European defense strategy via said NATO.
Had. Now it is like the sixth or seventh after US, Poland, Turkey, France, UK.
Last time Germany had a military power, they tried, and partially succeeded, to firmly embed it in Europe.
If anybody wants to know "what's been taking so long" responses like this are probably the reason.
To be honest, I am glad Germans are arming themselves. I even hope, that if the time comes, they will be determined enough to send their troops east. As a Pole I really hope, this time, they will do it in cooperation with Poland, not with russia.
Last time? True, Western Germany was a super powerful military embedded in western Europe. Maybe that's why the Soviets never attacked.
This is always way too overblown, look at the size of the german armed forces during the cold war, we're far below those numbers.
Do you think that Germany will attain those numbers again in the next 15 years?
no, we're not having enough kids
In Berlin, there’s a growing consensus that Putin won’t stop at Ukraine
What reality are they in? Putin has barely been able to invade part of Ukraine over multiple years, and it has cost him greatly. Who in their right mind thinks he has the power to march through the rest of Ukraine, and then Poland and then come all the way to Germany?
Fuck Putin but the reasons for this sudden military buildup are so sus. And it's right as we come up on Germany likely electing the most right-wing government since you-know-when.
Also "defense of the continent"? How do you become Professor without knowing that Russia itself is a mostly European country?
The argument isn't that Putin wants a total war with Europe, but rather that he's perfectly capable to attack a Baltic state. The general idea is that Russia isn't weak, it just faces a surprisingly resilient and innovative enemy.
So, a limited attack on a bordering EU country is possible. And there currently is a lack of military deterrence to do so, while the benefits (a fragmented NATO) are there.
Putin has barely been able to invade part of Ukraine over multiple years
Yeah and he doesn't care that he can't occupy Ukraine, is killing massive amounts of his people and destroying his country's economy as long at it keeps him in power. So when Putin's decisions are very obviously not based on any kind of sense, why not attack the Baltics next? Doesn't matter that he won't be able to defeat NATO. When he sees a political or personal reason he will do it, because fuck any consequences others have to bear.
not based on any kind of sense
The West did some things to Iraq, Libya and other countries. It's not entirely unreasonable to be a bit worried. We bought the Cuba story that the US cannot allow rockets there. We still don't help Cuba to be free. There is a moral imbalance that makes Russia seem less reasonable than they could be.
Call me a cynic, but I tend to not give much about morality here. When predicting the behavior of countries/their leaders I simply go by precendent.
Would the US randomly invade any third world country under a pretense for oil (or other geopolitical reasons) if they think they can get away with it? Sure. Would the current US administration be as bad and also incredibly stupid and incompetent on top? Very much so. Will Russia that doubled down on a failing quick special military operation again and again while telling fairy tales of fighting NATO and totally ignoring all setbacks, double down again and attack NATO territory when it's fitting their political narrative because they obviously don't care for the consequences? Entirely possible.
I can answer all these questions without any moral or much bias or some "we vs. them" view point just based on what already happened.
Are you ignorant or a Russian bot?
Look at the countries bordering Russia and count the number of invasions over the last 15 years.
Talk to Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians.
Educate yourself!!
I'm gonna ask again when the strong German military is firmly in the hands of an AfD government, which will be directly controlled by Putin. That's gonna be so fun 🎉
Realistically, if AfD is in control and starts doing shenanigans militarily, Germans are gonna politely drag them out of office. I mean, this is a country where only a minority would take up arms to defend their own house, they are not going to attack anyone if they need to be dragged kicking and screaming to defend.
firmly in the hands of an AfD governmentnt, which will be directly controlled by Putin.
Weidel is supposedly more on the US side. If she manages to pull a Merkel and silence Putin's men then other bad things can happen.
Can you tell us the number of invasions over the last 15 years, please? I checked, but I call bullshit from your side.
Did you talk to Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians or are you pulling that shit out of your ass to discredit your discussion partner, in the same way you do, when you ask, if they are a Russian bot?
In the last 15 years?? 2. Ukraine and the Caucasus. Zero baltic state invasions. But I'm not here to defend Putin whatsoever.
Look at the countries in the middle east and count the number of invasions that the German military has been part of or supported with weapons and military technology in the last 15 years. I can promise it's more than 2. And don't forget one of those involves a genocide.