Thanks to John Kampfner for his article (Germany’s change of heart is now pivotal to the war in Ukraine. Here’s why, 15 May). True, it took a long time for Germany to come to this dramatic decision on its military aid policy. But it makes me sad that very few of our European partners took the trouble to understand our nation’s hesitation. British voices especially were only too happy to rehash the old song about the unloved Germany, the eternally handicapped decision-maker.
Born in the postwar Germany of 1947, and having lived just a few kilometres away from the barbed wire and minefields of the East German border, and experienced all the awful fears of another war of everyone around us – deep in the bones of our families and teachers – I understand how this has made us a careful people. Sandwiched between two ideologies, West Germany and East Germany represented the arrowheads of two opposing systems, a situation that overshadowed our lives every day.
When I first came to England in the 60s, I was shocked about the lack of political interest in what was going on outside Britain. At least our depressing German role in the past has taught us – accompanied by strong political awareness and a profound interest in other nations and history – a feeling of deep responsibility. In a nutshell, I’d rather be colourless and boring like Olaf Scholz than responsible for more destruction. Hesitation has given us a chance to weigh up the facts responsibly before coming to a decision, even if no one seems to understand this.
Marrie Powell
Eschershausen, Germany
• John Kampfner is of course right that Germany’s role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will be pivotal, and his description of Olaf Scholz’s behaviour and character is to the point. However, it was not only the Social Democrats who were “salon pacifists”. The same applies to members of the Christian Democratic Union, especially those who grew up in East Germany.
One example is Angela Merkel. She was on the whole a good chancellor. But she should have recognised Vladimir Putin’s aims and intentions much earlier, and adjusted her policy accordingly.
Even today, more than 30 years after the Wende, there is quite a remarkable difference between East and West Germans regarding our country’s attitude towards Russia. East Germans seem to show much more understanding for Russia and Putin, and are still today rather critical of the US and the EU.
Renata von Toerne
Hof, Germany
