Commemorative act for the Afghanistan mission: Steinmeier pays tribute to the work of the Bundeswehr

Status: 13.10.2021 3:25 p.m.

German soldiers were deployed in Afghanistan for almost 20 years. In Berlin, their commitment will be honored today with a seven-hour program. Federal President Steinmeier drew a mixed balance in his speech.

On the parade ground of the Ministry of Defense, the central closing roll call for the deployment of the German armed forces in Afghanistan began, to which Chancellor Angela Merkel was also expected.

59 soldiers lost their lives in action

Before the roll call, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and other state representatives took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Bundeswehr Memorial on the premises of the Defense Ministry.

“In silent memory: The deployment in Afghanistan had an impact on the Bundeswehr. 59 comrades lost their lives,” declared the Defense Ministry.

The Federal President spoke to survivors and disabled people.

There are selected soldiers from all contingents, representing the around 160,000 men and women who have served in Afghanistan over the 20 years or so.

Steinmeier draws mixed results

In his speech, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier drew a mixed balance of the Bundeswehr’s decades of deployment in Afghanistan. “Twenty years after September 11th and two months after the fall of Kabul, many people who served and suffered in Afghanistan are asking questions. Questions about the meaning of this mission,” said Steinmeier.

Originally it was right to declare the NATO alliance case in 2001 and go to Afghanistan. “We have achieved our military goal of defeating those who, twenty years ago, brought terrible terror to our allies from Afghanistan,” said the Federal President, according to the text of the speech.

“But we did not achieve our ambitious goal of building stable state structures in Afghanistan,” Steinmeier continued.

Steinmeier expressly praised the achievements of the more than 150,000 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan – and the sacrifices they made. He especially remembered the 59 German soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan. “You paid the highest price a soldier can pay on behalf of his country,” said the Federal President. “We are deeply indebted to them.”

In the evening, the mission on the Republic Square in front of the Reichstag building is to be honored with a big tattoo.

Nadine Bader, ARD Berlin, on the appreciation and processing of the Afghanistan mission

daily news 12:00 noon, 13.10.2021

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