Germar Rudolf: Address for the Solemn Vow, Nov. 9, 1989

Address for the Solemn Vow

given by Germar Rudolf
on the occasion of the solemn vow
of the Bundeswehr recruits at the Eifel Maar Barracks, Ulm,
noon Sunday, the 9th November 1989.

Dear comrades,
honored guests,
my especially honored parents,

Today we celebrate the vow of the recruits in the peaceful space of the Eifel Maar Barracks in Ulm, and I would like to take a backward look, because the event, like the space within which it takes place, cannot be taken for granted.

I would like to take note of

scuffles during vows in public places

and more disturbing

harassment of pilots and their families during the public discussion of low-level flights
erection of a memorial for deserters
refusal by priests to wed soldiers in uniform
affirmation of the Frankfurt murder verdict against the soldiers

Thus I would like to bring in my own experience, for example, why among my age-peers I am and have been forced to justify why I have not refused military service. The usual talk of "Why should I go?" I like to counter with "Why not me?", or "If not me, who then?" One can not have only rights. One procures and earns rights only when one is also ready to assume duties.

It is the responsibility of the Bundeswehr to protect the peace in peacetime, yet one hears an expression borrowed from politics, that the purpose is

deterrence only, not preparedness for war

There are also confusions, in that people say

defense instead of war
and in my platoon I have even heard opponent instead of enemy, and even partner!

What army can deter, if it is not ready for war and ready to meet its enemies? In addition, today the purpose and mission of the Bundeswehr is confused, in that what people talk about is

pay increases
free time
soldier's unions, etc.

rather than the necessary training.

The Bundeswehr is not to blame for this evident crisis of understanding: this is a general social problem.

Let us look at the words of the vow more closely. There it states,

to defend bravely the right and freedom of the German people.

What is the right of the German people, what is the freedom?

Clearly, this is the freedom of the German people to determine its own future according to the law of nations.

However, it is clear that this right cannot be given effect at this time

either for those parts of our people that live scattered in East- and South-Europe,
or for our fellow citizens in East- and Middle-Germany.

These parts of our people are included in the vow, yet they have nothing we can defend. (1. we are not allowed, 2. there is obviously nothing to defend).

But I do n't want to stop at that point, I would like to dig deeper.

What is the state of the right and freedom of the western part of our people?

The law of nations (that's what it is about!) requires that peace should be concluded with the defeated foe three years after a war's end. I note that
UN bylaws, sections 53 and 107: clauses on enemy states
The transfer treaty provides for:
- restricted sovereignty
- allies' reservation of powers with respect to Germany as a whole
- military operations (weapons, manoevers)
- Soviet military missions
- no permission to intercept unidentified airplanes or ships in the home territory

Yet, in the Federal Republic of Germany the German people have the best possibility to express their intention and to accomplish it politically. This intention is laid down in the preamble of our Fundamental Law: the goal is the unity of Germany in a free, united Europe.

Even more: By the ruling of the Constitutional High Court on 31 July 1973, it is not allowed that any

"... constitutional office of the Federal Republic of Germany ... abandon the restoration of national unity as a political goal, all constitutional offices are duty bound to work toward this goal politically. That includes the requirement to keep the claim on reunion alive internally and to persistently champion it externally and not to undertake anything that would undermine reunion." Everyone can judge for himself how well politics and the public media behave constitutionally in this sense. The main point here is that the Federal Republic of Germany is not merely a refugee area for Germans, but the bearer of hope for the unfree parts of our people.

Let us address the question of the purpose of the Bundeswehr again:

Is the mission of the Bundeswehr

To guarantee the security and freedom of the West and NATO, by perhaps sacrificing itself in a civil war against the soldiers of the NVA, while allowing Germany to be used as a battlefield for the world powers or even to disappear entirely?

Should it support a politics that overcomes the greatest and most dangerous source of tension, the division of Europe through Germany, by reuniting Germany in a free, united Europe such that again there will arise that fruitful crossroads of East and West, North and South that has allowed this region to flourish economically, scientifically and culturally for a thousand years?

If politicians would present this vision to youth and fight for it with all their hearts and not entangle themselves in everyday political skirmishes, I am convinced that the youth would not only demand rights, but would be ready to take duties on oneself for this purpose.

Today more than ever we have a chance for such a politics, and if it were undertaken I would gladly fulfill my duty in service for unity in right and freedom.

Thank you for your attention.

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