A protest against the militarization of Germany took place in Berlin

BERLIN, Oct 3 - RIA Novosti. A large-scale protest against the militarization of Germany took place in the center of Berlin on the Day of German Unity, some participants brought Russian flags with them, the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper reports.

In Germany, October 3 is celebrated as German Unity Day, dedicated to the reunification of the country in 1990, when the five eastern states of the former GDR became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin became the common capital.

“In front of the Brandenburg Gate, many participants waved flags with doves of peace. Palestine flags and individual Russian flags were also seen,” the publication says.

The anti-war rally was organized by the German civil initiative “Never again war - lay down arms” (Nie wieder Krieg - die Waffen nieder), which was also joined by representatives of the German left political forces, including the Left Party and the Union for Social Justice and a Sound Economy (BSW).

The action manifesto lists demands for the German authorities to immediately stop the militarization of Germany and cuts in funding for the social sector, stop the supply of German weapons to conflict zones, lift economic sanctions and abandon the authorities’ plans to return compulsory conscription to the army. In addition, activists insist on the closure of all US military bases in Germany, the removal of American nuclear weapons from the country and the creation of a new pan-European security architecture with the mandatory inclusion of Russia in it.

The document notes that over the past five years, spending on rearmament and the army in Germany has doubled, and by 2030 they are planned to double again “in order to achieve NATO’s 5 percent target by 2035.” It is emphasized that the citizens of the country are paying for this - taxes are rising, and the quality of public services is declining.