Russian MFA spokesperson: Germany forgot lessons of military history

Russia has criticised Germany for what it called a resurgence of “militaristic enthusiasm” after Berlin introduced new rules requiring men aged 17 to 45 to obtain special permission from the Bundeswehr Career Centre before leaving the country for more than three months.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on Telegram that such measures were previously only used during times of state emergency, but are now applied even in peacetime, Caliber.Az reports. 

She warned that the regulation gives Germany the legal tools to recall men at any moment, effectively normalising a level of military oversight not seen since past periods of tension.

Zakharova also cited remarks from the German political program Presseclub, which had suggested conscription could have health benefits, including prostate checks during medical examinations.

She argued that such comments reflected a broader “militaristic fervour” in Germany and stressed that the country risked ignoring the lessons of history, recalling that previous attempts by German political elites to establish the nation as Europe’s leading military power had ended in global tragedy.

By Sabina Mammadli