German Federal Armed Forces in Schools: More Criticism Ensues

Members of the German Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) are always welcome as guests in parliament. In schools, however, they are not as welcome by the representatives of the peace initiative. Photo: dpa

Stuttgart, Germany – The Ministry of Education and the German Bundeswehr have entered into an agreement of collaboration with regards to the education of security politics in schools. The Minister of Education, Andreas Stoch (SPD), hopes this will end a dispute which has been smouldering for nearly two years. Representatives of the peace initiative, however, are not convinced of this solution. The pact replaces the country’s and Bundeswehr’s cooperation agreement from 2009. The Green Party had seen preferential treatment of the Federal Armed Forces in this agreement and had criticised that members of the peace initiative would be relegated to second place. In retaliation, the CDU had emphasised that the Bundeswehr would be considered a peace organisation. A campaign has been created against the cooperation agreement which calls for “No school for the Bundeswehr – learn for freedom”.

The new agreement better guarantees the balance in the mediation of educating security and peace politics, explains Stoch. Criticism of the current cooperation is taken into consideration; at the same time, the new arrangement of the constitutional position of the German Bundeswehr is fair. It is now clearer that youth officers may not advertise the Armed Forces’ activities in schools. The officers, however, still give lectures in teacher training. In the future, the trainees will continue to be allowed to participate. Stoch announced that the peace education will be further strengthened. The Ministry will suggest a joint declaration to the organisations from the peace education. “We want students to be able to create a comprehensive image of issues pertaining to security and peace politics,” says Stoch.

Critics for “military-free schools”

Roland Blach, spokesperson for the “No school for the Bundeswehr” campaign continues to demand that the cooperation with the German Armed Forces be discarded with no replacement. Even with the new agreement, the Bundeswehr has privileges. Members of the campaign want peace education to be anchored into education plans and are advocating for “schools in Baden-Württemberg to declare themselves military-free”. The German Armed Forces, on the other hand, are pleased “that the current federal state government continues to be seen to cooperate,” explains Michael Kuhn, Commander of the Federal State Command of Baden-Württemburg. He stresses that the ten youth officers in the region are not recruiting. They also claim to only be active at the schools’ behest.

Source: stuttgarter-zeitung

Translation: Laura Guthrie