Bremen veteran tells: A life between security and challenge

Bremen veteran tells: A life between security and challenge

Next Sunday, the veterans of Germany can look forward to a special honor. Heiko Deiß, a Bremer who served with the Bundeswehr for over 30 years, is honored at the first National Veteran Day. With a number of over ten million participants, which were active in some form, Germany sets a strong sign of recognition for the benefits of the soldiers. This day, decided by the former Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen, should not only promote review, but also dialogue between citizens and the relatives of the Bundeswehr, is in Deutschland-bundestag-100.html"> Tagesschau reports.

Public perception changes, especially in the light of current geopolitical developments. The Russian attack on Ukraine has raised awareness of the importance of a strong defense and lets the role of the Bundeswehr come back into focus. It should not be forgotten that veterans are not only known from the Second World War, but also belong to returnees from missions such as in Kosovo and Afghanistan. In contrast to the image, which is often conveyed, the term “veteran” not only consists of “heroes”, but also encloses a variety of experiences and challenges that each individual has to manage. Many now want a society that deals more empathetically with the topics with which veterans are confronted. For some, even the term "return returner" is preferred to avoid the military connotation of the word veteran - a thought that is increasingly being considered in the debate about the integration of soldiers and their return to everyday civilian life.

A look into the future of the veterans

With over 120,000 veterans in Germany, it is expected that this number will continue to increase, since the debate about the rights and obligations of veterans in society is progressing. Current considerations on the veteran status and what this means are still in flow. Questions such as: Does the status also apply to honorably dismissed soldiers without any operational experience? Or can active soldiers also be viewed as veterans? remain unanswered, according to the Federal Center for Political Education .

The veteran day offers an excellent opportunity to put these topics in the foreground. The organizers hope that the honors are not only a sign of appreciation, but also promote concrete help for injured or traumatized soldiers and their families. This important dialogue will begin on Sunday at 11.30 a.m. in Bremen, and admission opens at 11 a.m. Let us appreciate the achievements of these men and women together and further consolidate the bridge between the military and society.