this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2025
795 points (98.2% liked)

World News

45297 readers
3463 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, recently got the all-clear for a massive increase in investment after parliament voted to exempt defence spending from strict rules on debt.

The country's top general has told the BBC the cash boost is urgently needed because he believes Russian aggression won't stop at Ukraine.

"We are threatened by Russia. We are threatened by Putin. We have to do whatever is needed to deter that," Gen Carsten Breuer says. He warns that Nato should be braced for a possible attack in as little as four years.

"It's not about how much time I need, it's much more about how much time Putin gives us to be prepared," the defence chief says bluntly. "And the sooner we are prepared the better."

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] archonet@lemy.lol 151 points 2 days ago (12 children)

for the first time, Germany possibly gets to be the "good guys" in a world war! Quite a turnaround.

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 89 points 2 days ago (3 children)

With the Putin-loving, fascist AfD as the second strongest party in the country? We will see, but I do not have high hopes.

[–] archonet@lemy.lol 53 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I'd like to believe they'll kick the Nazis out of the bar before they reach the levers of true power, but I'm American and you see how well having that naive hope went for us.

Having said that, I imagine the Germans are at least slightly more cognizant of the risks involved than we are. Difference between "It can't happen here!" and "It has already happened here and it was bad."

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 29 points 2 days ago

Having said that, I imagine the Germans are at least slightly more cognizant of the risks involved than we are.

Yeah one would think so, huh? But nope, right now nothing points to that. The last government declined to start the banning process against the AfD even tho the chances of success would have been really high. And that was a coalition of basically the labor party (as far as they think of themselves at least), the greens and some neo-lib shitheads. With the conservative government of right now? Lmao fat chance.

[–] Djehngo@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (2 children)

So my understanding is that they are the second strongest, but still at around 20% the other German parties formed a coalition that froze Afd out of power. So they are still a threat in future elections, but they have limited impact on policy for now.

Is that correct or have I got the wrong idea?

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] FatTony@lemmy.world 29 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I mean, were they really The Bad Guys™ in WW1?

[–] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 33 points 2 days ago

From what I understand about WW1, it was just a huge clusterfuck

[–] squishy@lemmy.zip 27 points 2 days ago

If they won they wouldn't be.

[–] wieson@feddit.org 22 points 2 days ago (2 children)

From my point of view, everyone was the Bad Guys in ww1.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Boxscape@lemmy.sdf.org 21 points 2 days ago (3 children)

for the first time, Germany possibly gets to be the "good guys" in a world war! Quite a turnaround.

collapsed inline media

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] cm0002@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Germany on track for the greatest redemption arc of all time lmao

load more comments (8 replies)
[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 92 points 2 days ago (8 children)

Good article.

I appreciate that this was the photo the bbc chose to express German concern over US Russian relations;

collapsed inline media

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 65 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I also see Putin as quite very

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (2 children)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Mrkawfee@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I only see Putin as "really" but then I'm not German

load more comments (7 replies)
[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 92 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Germany, Italy, and Japan go to war against Russia and the US. Only this time the former group is the Good Guys.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 38 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Pearl Harbour 2 is gonna be sick

[–] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

Starring Cuba Gooding Junior Jr.

[–] 3laws@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Italy has a grotesque far right wave RN, they are not the good guys still. Japan is not progressive enough compared to Germany, but I can believe Germany is far removed from being as much as a bad guy compared to the USA & Russia today.

load more comments (5 replies)
load more comments (5 replies)
[–] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 78 points 2 days ago (16 children)

It feels a bit weird being on the German side for once, also their track record of succeeding isn't that great, but I love our neighbors and I fully support them.

I'm just, sad the world is falling into another world war while we also just could be more kind and forgiving towards each other. It would save a lot of lives and leads of pain and agony.

[–] Beetschnapps@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago (2 children)

None of this would have been necessary if it wasn’t for republicans.

[–] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 29 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Not just republicans. Democrats in the US are right wing too. The entire country is fucked up, the reps just speed up the process exponentially. But don't forget the most immigrants who have been thrown out was during Obama and Biden. Biden supported Israel too, with loads of weapons.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] realitista@lemm.ee 23 points 2 days ago (11 children)

Their success rate would have been a lot higher if they had known when to stop ;-). I think if the stated goal of defending Europe from Russia doesn't change that they have a very good chance of success given the numbers they are talking about.

load more comments (11 replies)
[–] LittleBorat3@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So yes forgiving and all that. Here are the steps: 1 Putin removes his troops from the occupied territories 2 he apologizes 3 maybe someone forgives him.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (13 replies)
[–] TylerBourbon@lemmy.world 64 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't see this as Germany leaving history in the past, but being smart to protect their future so the that the lessons of the past mean something.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Phoenix3875@lemmy.world 50 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

A bit concerning if an AfD take-over can't be completely ruled out.

[–] rippersnapper@lemm.ee 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah I’m a bit tired of bought out politicians dismantling a country from the inside.

Probably the biggest loophole that HAS to be fixed!

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The biggest problem with democracy is that voting isn't mandatory, and 25% of any population is dumb as bricks.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (5 replies)
[–] Naevermix@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago (3 children)

This is not just about security, this is about safeguarding the last bastions of real democracy.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 27 points 2 days ago (16 children)

I feel like this is a good idea but I also saw what Germany did to Brazil in that World Cup and there needs to be a plan for them going too far and hurting people just for living.

load more comments (16 replies)
[–] FuckFascism@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

Misleading title ass click bait type shit.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It took them four years to get the hint, but they got there in the end.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 17 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What the hell is with the Germans and austerity? They've been holding their own country back for over 15 years

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

What choice do we have? I would focus on improving everything for the regulars and copy the Finnish reserve system.

[–] MITM0@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Just don't draft people & you good. A drafted military never fights well

[–] Bashnagdul@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Maybe, but a drafted one fights better than one that doesn't exist.

load more comments (5 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›