First National Veteran Day: Brandenburg's focus!

First National Veteran Day: Brandenburg's focus!

Potsdam, Deutschland - Today, on June 28, 2025, numerous active and former soldiers gathered in the Potsdam State Chancellery to celebrate the first national veteran day. Prime Minister Dr. Dietmar Woidke had originally invited to this important event, but Interior Minister René Wilke took over the speech for illness. In his speech, he emphasized the appreciation and respect that society shows towards the Bundeswehr and its heroic members. Wilke emphasized how important it was to say thank you publicly and not to forget the dangers of the service and the willingness to sacrifice of the soldiers. Together with his appeal for more visibility in society, major steps are taken here in order to give the male and female soldiers the recognition they deserve. As reported CityReport, around 9,000 soldiers in Brandenburg served at the time of the veteran, with 34 of them participating in eight missions.

The introduction of the veteran day, which is celebrated annually on June 15, is an important step in the perception of military members in Germany. In recent years there have always been discussions حول the appreciation of the soldiers and the effects of their missions on society. Sergeant Naef Adebahr spoke at the event about his experiences in Afghanistan and the challenges that many soldiers bring back. His call for appreciation at home makes it clear how important it is to raise the collective awareness of the realities. According to a report by esut, the need for more benevolence and respect for the soldiers over the years, especially since the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the associated reflections within the German Bundestag.

social empathy for soldiers

The statements by Johannes Arlt, a member of the Bundestag of the SPD and veterans themselves, illustrate the dilemma with which many soldiers are faced. He reports that several missions were made by him between 2014 and 2019. Despite this experience, Arlt found that empathy for soldiers in German society often lacks. Many relatives suffer from psychological stress, with such difficulties in 80% of the families of traumatized soldiers. The veteran day should set a political signal to honor the Bundeswehr and its missions. As reports DW, it is pointed out that the idea of ​​a veteran day is not new. The then defense minister Thomas de Maizière spoke for it over a decade ago.

In Germany, an estimated 10 million veterans are served and honored for at least six months. Members of the former National People's Army (NVA) are also integrated into the veteran count, provided they were included in the Bundeswehr. However, the veteran day does not aim to propagate a heroization of the soldiers, but rather to honest recognition and appreciation of the profession.

The attention that the Bundeswehr has received since the Russian attack on Ukraine shows that society is ready to seriously deal with the topic. The veteran day offers the necessary platform to create more visibility and honor the use of the soldiers. Among the guests who were in the State Chancellery on this important day, there was agreement that more empathy and appreciation are necessary.