Darmstadt signal

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Logo of the Darmstädter Signal working group

The Darmstädter Signal working group ( Ak-DS ) is an association of active and former officers , NCOs and civilian employees of the Bundeswehr who feel connected to the peace movement. The spokesman for the working group is Major a. D. Florian Pfaff . The members of the working group follow politics in and around the Bundeswehr critically, but do not reject them. For the Darmstadt Signal, the role of the Bundeswehr is to defend the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic according to the strict interpretation of international laws. The internal constitution of a German army should therefore follow the principles of internal leadership . Foreign missions should only be possible after all peaceful attempts to resolve the conflict through UN- mandated missions have failed. Through information events, lectures, and internal and public discussions, the working group tries to criticize grievances and develop alternative suggestions.

history

It was founded in Darmstadt in September 1983 by 20 officers and NCOs. The main point of criticism of a call for peace policy drawn up there by Darmstadt Signal was the stationing of new nuclear missiles in Central Europe in connection with the NATO double decision . To this day, the working group calls for the dismantling of all weapons of mass destruction and the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons in Germany . In addition, the consistent implementation of the defensive character of the Bundeswehr and the reduction of arms exports to countries of the so-called Third World are called for. Today the working group has around 130 members and 200 supporters in the sponsorship group. Two to three working meetings and seminars take place annually to develop positions and draw attention to new developments through lectures. Ak-DS spokesman was Lieutenant Colonel ret. D. Helmuth Prieß . Another member of the board is the journalist and lieutenant colonel i. R. Jürgen Rose .

On March 15, 1986, a support group was founded by supporters of the soldiers. This supports the work of the Darmstadt Signal ideally and financially through donations and membership fees. Numerous personalities from politics, science and culture are members, including several former federal ministers, active and former members of the Bundestag from various parties and also several former generals of the Bundeswehr. The chairmen of the sponsorship group were a. Horst-Eberhard Richter , Gernot Erler and Konrad Gilges . From autumn 2013 to autumn 2019, Senior Staff Doctor a. D. Dr. Karl Wilhelm Demmer holds the chair.

After the long-time chairman Hauptmann dR Florian Kling applied for the dissolution of the Darmstadt signal in autumn 2019 , six of the only nine voters present rejected the application and decided to continue the association. Kling then stepped back. Pfaff was his successor, Rose took over the chairmanship of the association. Kling doubted that the organization would experience a renaissance and predicted "an end in installments". Members see as the cause of the working group's problems with young talent, among other things, the harsh discussion culture of some veteran members, which shows a deterrent effect for possible new members.

aims

Based on the internal leadership , the members understand as citizens in uniform , also includes the political expression for their civil rights, contrary to earlier armies of Germany. The "signalers" are for the withdrawal of the remaining nuclear weapons from Germany and against the participation of the Bundeswehr in military combat missions that enforce peace. The Darmstadt signal does not represent any official opinion or mood of the Bundeswehr. The working group celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 27, 2008 with a ceremony in the House of History in Bonn . The keynote speaker was Egon Bahr .

The demands of the working group:

literature

  • Lothar Liebsch: Peace is an emergency. The soldiers of the “Darmstadt Signal” in contradiction between the Bundeswehr and the peace movement . Jenior, Kassel 2003, ISBN 3-934377-84-X .
  • "Prieß case" / Darmstadt signal / Frankfurt soldiers' judgment , vol. 12, section "Bundeswehr material collection" in the Bernd C. Hesslein collection of the Institute for Contemporary History .
  • Peace Movement / Darmstädter Signal , Vol. 41, Section “Bundeswehr Material Collection” in the Bernd C. Hesslein Collection of the Institute for Contemporary History.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Darmstädter Signal - About us
  2. ↑ Darmstädter Signal - Förderkreis
  3. ↑ Critical ex-soldiers continue taz, October 21, 2019

Web links