Bouncy castle and rocket launcher, do they go together? The German army wants to show off heavy military equipment at the city festival in Dresden this year. The Left Party has started a petition against this. The CDU defends the military presentation.
Left: “Army is not an adventure camp”
“Heavy military weapons have no place at a city festival,” stressed Left Party faction leader André Schollbach. He was appalled that dangerous military equipment was being put on display between the bouncy castle, Ferris wheel and candy floss. An army is not a fun adventure camp.
Heavy military weapons have no place at a city festival.
André Schollbach | Dresden Left City Councillor
CDU city councillor: “The most natural thing in the world”
CDU city councillor Hans-Joachim Brauns sees things quite differently: “Our soldiers come from the middle of our society, they belong there and they are there. When they show how they fulfil their mission, that is the most natural thing in the world,” explains Brauns. Criticism of this is “completely inappropriate”. With the suspension of the Compulsory military service The Bundeswehr is vying for trainees on the job market like any other employer. To do this, it presents itself to a broad population with all its modern and technical possibilities.
The Bundeswehr’s Patriot air defence system will also be on display in Dresden. It is currently being used in the Ukraine in the defensive war against Russia. (Archive image)
The Bundeswehr had previously presented itself on several occasions on the festival’s “Blue Light Mile” alongside the police, fireworks and technical relief organisations.
About 500,000 visitors expected at the city festival
The this year’s city festival begins on Friday and lasts until Sunday. Stages, stalls and rides have been set up since the beginning of the week, and traders and beverage suppliers also set up shop on Thursday. Around 500,000 visitors are expected to attend the city festival on the Old and New Market over the entire weekend. To kick things off, the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kreuzchor will be holding the opening concert on the Theaterplatz on Friday evening.
