German schoolchildren should be prepared for war to “strengthen our resilience”, the country’s education minister has said as tensions with Russia continue to soar.
Bettina Stark-Watzinger also suggested that “civil defence” exercises, without giving further details, should be held in schools as part of efforts to help youngsters cope in the years to come.
“Society as a whole must prepare well for crises, from a pandemic to natural disasters to war…civil defence is immensely important, it also belongs in schools. The goal must be to strengthen our resilience,” said Ms Stark-Watzinger in an interview with the Funke media group.
Her remarks came as the German government seeks to make the country “kriegstüchtig”, or “war ready”, in the face of a potential Russia-Nato conflict, which could arrive on Europe’s borders within a few years according to senior German defence officials.
In the same interview, Ms Stark-Watzinger, 55, said she also wanted to see more outreach work from members of the Bundeswehr, the German army, to make children feel more familiar with the armed forces.
“I think it is important that youth officers come to schools and report what the Bundeswehr is doing for our security,” she said.
“Here’s your rifle, Timmy. Now stop crying and shoot those Russians”
Everyone is always acting like being prepared for something means that you want that thing to happen or that you are convinced that it will happen for sure.
I mean, everybody has multiple insurances, I have occupational disability insurance in case I can’t go on doing my job anymore when I’m older. I also have an insurance that gives me money if I happen to get unemployed, doesn’t mean that I plan to lose my job anytime soon. But it could happen so I rather want to be prepared.
Since when does being prepared mean something bad?
I played a shit ton of Counter Strike in school, so I am prepared to shoot some russians
Once again, and growing in importance by the day as the news gets more and more dire, don’t just read headlines. Read the whole thing.
Generally speaking everyone should be taking any possible future conflict seriously and doing things to be prepared.
It’s insurance, not assurance.
I hope they will give us at least the top of technological gears.
surely preparing for war is making a peace initiative…..
I seriously though it would take longer than 60ish years to forget all the lessons we previously learned…. ALL OF THEM
Babe wake up, Volkstrum 2 just dropped
Everyone needs to calm down and stop sabre rattling.
I was speaking with my old dorm room buddy and he said he didnt think there was anything worth fighting for when it comes to Germany. Is this a common attitude amongst Germans?
Gosh the comments
“Children need to be prepared for earthquakes”
“Leave the children alone! >:0”
No. No war for germany. You are still in time out!
What the xxxx is wrong with the world. Are we really talking about a war with nuclear powerhouse? Must be great to be a kid these days.
Basically you be dead in 20 years due to climate change and natural disasters or get blown up by some mf via drone.
I believe that the more you think and say something might happen, the higher the chance it will happen.
I think the public diplomacy strategy of France and Germany have not been very good. They’re essentially fearmongering and warmongering at the same time. I don’t think the population of western european countries like the thought of conflict and I don’t think they can be relied upon if/when the time comes.
They should adopt the USSR school program of war awareness.
Oh please, as if that pig putin would dare attack nato. He could attack ukraine because they were a lone single country with no nukes. Nato is something entirely different.
Damn this feels like 0-100 lol
How do you prepare school children for war?! How do you prepare anyone but soldiers for war?
The children yearn for the trenches.
That’s coming from Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the **National/ Federal Minister of Education**. That’s one of the least important positions in the cabinet as **education is a state matter in Germany**. Every German Federal State has its own curriculum, its own teacher training programs, approves its own textbooks and several states have types of schools and degrees that don’t exist in other states. What this woman says is completely irrevalent and nobody cares. Do a census in the streets here in Germany and ask who this woman is: Nobody knows her! The article omits that the CDU (the guys in favor of providing Ukraine with the Taurus rockets) are critical of her plans, so is one of Germany’s largest teachers unions, the VEB.
But that’s true. I remember when a test alarm went in my town at uneven hour. I instantly checked the news and I was like “teacher, there is alarm going off”. Class laughed it off like I was some kind of nerd
What the hell are the kids supposed to do about it? You tried that already Germany, it didn’t work. Send Taurus.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.
Listen for the faint shriek of the war eagle in the distance to mark Genesis. Watch the night skies for shadows in the stars.
Ah yes. Get under your desk, put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye. Been through that and what feels like non-stop threats to my existence ever since. The fuck outta here bitch.
For years people have been complaining about Germany’s reluctance in military matters, that they are unwilling to lead.
Germans are raised with the cultural guilt of WW2 to be against war and the military, and as a result they are a deeply pacifistic country. Most say they wouldn’t even fight to defend Germany.
You can’t have Germany lead militarily to support democracy if every generation is taught to be completely repulsed by the concept of the military. The newer generations have to be taught that it’s okay for Germany to take on that role.
And yet, look at this thread… the mere mention that German kids should be taught to be prepared and to instill a sense of civic duty and you get comments like this…
“Unhinged statements like this only help Russia”
“Everyone needs to calm down and stop sabre rattling.”
“Babe wake up, Volkstrum 2 just dropped”
“Similar headline in the early 1940s in Gernany”
“indoctrinating their children for war with russia”
As should Canadian children, I am all for conscription when the time rises to free Ukraine.
Not a bad idea tbf. As evident by the battle of Zadwórze, the invincible russian army can absolutely be stopped by children
/s
If you look at which state German schools are in war would be the way safer alternative in a couple of years
Wouldn’t it be better if you prepared the army for the war first?
if it seems excessive even to me as a Turk, I wonder what the Germans think about this.
fight this war that you’re egging on, yourself
Germany prepared for war is never a good thing
Volksstrum 2: Electric Boogaloo
I want to cry. No schoolchildren should be prepared for war.
44 comments
**From The Telegraph:**
German schoolchildren should be prepared for war to “strengthen our resilience”, the country’s education minister has said as tensions with Russia continue to soar.
Bettina Stark-Watzinger also suggested that “civil defence” exercises, without giving further details, should be held in schools as part of efforts to help youngsters cope in the years to come.
“Society as a whole must prepare well for crises, from a pandemic to natural disasters to war…civil defence is immensely important, it also belongs in schools. The goal must be to strengthen our resilience,” said Ms Stark-Watzinger in an interview with the Funke media group.
Her remarks came as the German government seeks to make the country “kriegstüchtig”, or “war ready”, in the face of a potential Russia-Nato conflict, which could arrive on Europe’s borders within a few years according to senior German defence officials.
In the same interview, Ms Stark-Watzinger, 55, said she also wanted to see more outreach work from members of the Bundeswehr, the German army, to make children feel more familiar with the armed forces.
“I think it is important that youth officers come to schools and report what the Bundeswehr is doing for our security,” she said.
**More here:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/18/german-children-should-be-prepared-for-war/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/18/german-children-should-be-prepared-for-war/)
“Why are you so nostalgic about the 80s and 90s”, then they ask.
[deleted]
German schools should be prepared for education 1st
Similar headline in the early 1940s in Gernany
She meant in general. Keep your pants on.
can german politicians really not reach a reasonable middle ground between sucking putin’s dick and indoctrinating their children for war with russia?
just jump straight from one to the other? it’s giving me whiplash and i’m not even involved
come on
How about we all calm the fuck down!???
Duck and cover.
[2024 Germany got me](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/615/874/317.png)
Oh for fuck’s sake..
“Here’s your rifle, Timmy. Now stop crying and shoot those Russians”
Everyone is always acting like being prepared for something means that you want that thing to happen or that you are convinced that it will happen for sure.
I mean, everybody has multiple insurances, I have occupational disability insurance in case I can’t go on doing my job anymore when I’m older. I also have an insurance that gives me money if I happen to get unemployed, doesn’t mean that I plan to lose my job anytime soon. But it could happen so I rather want to be prepared.
Since when does being prepared mean something bad?
I played a shit ton of Counter Strike in school, so I am prepared to shoot some russians
Once again, and growing in importance by the day as the news gets more and more dire, don’t just read headlines. Read the whole thing.
Generally speaking everyone should be taking any possible future conflict seriously and doing things to be prepared.
It’s insurance, not assurance.
I hope they will give us at least the top of technological gears.
surely preparing for war is making a peace initiative…..
I seriously though it would take longer than 60ish years to forget all the lessons we previously learned…. ALL OF THEM
Babe wake up, Volkstrum 2 just dropped
Everyone needs to calm down and stop sabre rattling.
I was speaking with my old dorm room buddy and he said he didnt think there was anything worth fighting for when it comes to Germany. Is this a common attitude amongst Germans?
Gosh the comments
“Children need to be prepared for earthquakes”
“Leave the children alone! >:0”
No. No war for germany. You are still in time out!
What the xxxx is wrong with the world. Are we really talking about a war with nuclear powerhouse? Must be great to be a kid these days.
Basically you be dead in 20 years due to climate change and natural disasters or get blown up by some mf via drone.
I believe that the more you think and say something might happen, the higher the chance it will happen.
I think the public diplomacy strategy of France and Germany have not been very good. They’re essentially fearmongering and warmongering at the same time. I don’t think the population of western european countries like the thought of conflict and I don’t think they can be relied upon if/when the time comes.
They should adopt the USSR school program of war awareness.
Oh please, as if that pig putin would dare attack nato. He could attack ukraine because they were a lone single country with no nukes. Nato is something entirely different.
Damn this feels like 0-100 lol
How do you prepare school children for war?! How do you prepare anyone but soldiers for war?
The children yearn for the trenches.
That’s coming from Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the **National/ Federal Minister of Education**. That’s one of the least important positions in the cabinet as **education is a state matter in Germany**. Every German Federal State has its own curriculum, its own teacher training programs, approves its own textbooks and several states have types of schools and degrees that don’t exist in other states. What this woman says is completely irrevalent and nobody cares. Do a census in the streets here in Germany and ask who this woman is: Nobody knows her! The article omits that the CDU (the guys in favor of providing Ukraine with the Taurus rockets) are critical of her plans, so is one of Germany’s largest teachers unions, the VEB.
But that’s true. I remember when a test alarm went in my town at uneven hour. I instantly checked the news and I was like “teacher, there is alarm going off”. Class laughed it off like I was some kind of nerd
What the hell are the kids supposed to do about it? You tried that already Germany, it didn’t work. Send Taurus.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.
Listen for the faint shriek of the war eagle in the distance to mark Genesis. Watch the night skies for shadows in the stars.
Ah yes. Get under your desk, put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye. Been through that and what feels like non-stop threats to my existence ever since. The fuck outta here bitch.
For years people have been complaining about Germany’s reluctance in military matters, that they are unwilling to lead.
Germans are raised with the cultural guilt of WW2 to be against war and the military, and as a result they are a deeply pacifistic country. Most say they wouldn’t even fight to defend Germany.
You can’t have Germany lead militarily to support democracy if every generation is taught to be completely repulsed by the concept of the military. The newer generations have to be taught that it’s okay for Germany to take on that role.
And yet, look at this thread… the mere mention that German kids should be taught to be prepared and to instill a sense of civic duty and you get comments like this…
“Unhinged statements like this only help Russia”
“Everyone needs to calm down and stop sabre rattling.”
“Babe wake up, Volkstrum 2 just dropped”
“Similar headline in the early 1940s in Gernany”
“indoctrinating their children for war with russia”
As should Canadian children, I am all for conscription when the time rises to free Ukraine.
Not a bad idea tbf. As evident by the battle of Zadwórze, the invincible russian army can absolutely be stopped by children
/s
If you look at which state German schools are in war would be the way safer alternative in a couple of years
Wouldn’t it be better if you prepared the army for the war first?
if it seems excessive even to me as a Turk, I wonder what the Germans think about this.
fight this war that you’re egging on, yourself
Germany prepared for war is never a good thing
Volksstrum 2: Electric Boogaloo
I want to cry. No schoolchildren should be prepared for war.