First National Veteran Day: Honor for our soldiers in NRW!

First National Veteran Day: Honor for our soldiers in NRW!

Augustdorf, Deutschland - Today we celebrate a special occasion in Germany: the first national veteran day, which is officially launched today on June 15, 2025. The aim of this day is to create more recognition for active and former soldiers. The Bundestag had taken this decision in 2022 with a majority, and today it will be implemented. The central event will take place around the Reichstag site in Berlin at noon, further events are distributed across the whole of Germany, also in cities like Duisburg, where a "march of appreciation" is planned. In total, one can benefit from over 100 events that serve respect and appreciation towards our veterans. For example, around 10 million people did military service, of which around 500,000 soldiers were active.

Henning Otte, the military officer of the Bundestag, emphasizes how important this day is to draw attention to the challenges with which many traumatized soldiers fight. In particular, the increased support and appreciation is pointed out that earn both active and earlier soldiers. For example, former soldiers, such as Stab Subdue officer Stephan, report a remarkable change in the perception of veterans over the years. While after his return from Somalia he was often confronted with shame and lack of interest 30 years ago, he experiences a growing interest and more appreciation for the experiences of the veterans, even in everyday life.

on the way to more recognition

But there are also critical voices. Some veterans demand more than just symbolic gestures from politics. For example, Robert, who suffers from post -traumatic stress disorder, sees the day rather skeptical and it remains to be hoped that the federal government will consider concrete help for veterans. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Krause, who heads the veteran office in Berlin, explains that this office is doing everything possible to support former soldiers on bureaucratic questions. Here, too, the implementation of the decisions of the Bundestag, which were agreed in 2022, is important.

veterans in Germany: A look at the events

On the other topics that concern Germany: the escalated situation in the Middle East, the G7 summit in Canada and the latest developments related to African swine fever. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the virus was detected in a dead wild boar in Kirchhundem. Although the disease is harmless to humans and many animals, it represents a significant threat to pig farming.

Finally, it can be said that the national veteran day in Germany is both a celebration and an invitation to society to do more for people who stand for peace and freedom. The dialogue has opened - it remains to be hoped that it not only remains symbolic. For detailed information about the events you can visit the official side of the veteran day at veteranentag.gov.de