- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
Defence minister tells soldiers 'stop whining'
Published: 25 Feb 13 07:32 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130225-48171.html
Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière has offended German soldiers by suggesting they were addicted to praise and in constant need of approval. Instead, he said they should concentrate on their work.
- Elite soldiers 'growing left breasts' - Science & Technology (26 Jan 13)
- Politicians warn against more defence cuts - Politics (26 Jan 13)
- German troops heading to Turkey-Syria border - National (6 Dec 12)
But he added that many soldiers did not see this, and were desperate for approval. "They have the understandable, but often exaggerated desire for appreciation. They have perhaps become practically addicted to it," said de Maizière.
"Simply stop craving recognition," he said. "One does not get the appreciation of others by asking for it, but by working well."
The action was predictably unhappy, with Ulrich Kirsch, head of the Bundeswehr Association said the minister's choice of words were "disappointing and absolutely inappropriate.
"German soldiers do not crave for anything - neither recognition nor anything else."
If soldiers had a greater need for respect and recognition, it was because for a long time they had received too little of these things, he said.
Defence spokesman for the opposition Social Democrats Rainer Arnold, said that apart from the unfortunate choice of words, he could understand de Maizière's comments.
"One must sometimes explain to soldiers that it is no disrespect of the army when people regard military operations sceptically," he told Monday's Süddeutsche Zeitung.
De Maizière was in Turkey at the weekend visiting the 300 German troops stationed there with Patriot rockets units as part of a NATO operation to support Turkish defences near the Syrian border.
DPA/The Local/hc
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fan wants Bayern ticket-Oktoberfest beer swap
A Bayern Munich supporter is so desperate to get his hands on a ticket for Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund he is offering to trade 20 litres of beer and a rare free table at Oktoberfest. READ () »
Nationwide cannabis limit rolls nearer
Germany could in the future have a country-wide “tolerable limit” for cannabis possession, it was reported on Friday. Currently, this amount differs between states. READ () »
Job centre Facebook spying 'is illegal'
Job centres searching for photos of “ill” people at wild parties or statuses by “broke” people boasting about their new cars were warned on Friday it was illegal to use Facebook to spy on people suspected of abusing the benefits system. READ () »
'Germany is indifferent to neo-Nazi violence'
It's an intriguing premise: Are Germans ready to elect a Jewish politician chancellor? British journalist David Crossland has written a novel exploring themes of racism and neo-Nazi violence in Germany. The Local has excerpts. READ () »
Fraternities mull 'Aryan purity' test for members
Germany's oldest fraternity association could change its membership rules to include only ethnic Germans at their annual meeting this weekend, the country's media reported on Friday. READ () »
'Herrenberg is a colourful, cultural gem'
Get The Local flavour of Germany with our series offering an insider's take on their hometown. This week, Marcy Jarvis talks about her adopted town, Herrenberg. READ () »
Immigrants 'more skilled' than many Germans
Nearly half of all immigrants arriving in Germany are more highly skilled than their host country's residents, a study released on Friday revealed. READ () »
Cardinal: Women should stay at home and breed
A leading German Catholic cardinal says the government should encourage women to stay at home and breed - rather than bring immigrants into the country to solve its demographic problems. READ () »
- 24/05 Job centre Facebook spying 'is illegal' »
- 24/05 Fraternities mull 'Aryan purity' test for members »
- 23/05 Brewers: 'No fracking with our German beer' »
- 23/05 Keep your socks on – autumn is in the air »
- 23/05 Germany tops world popularity poll »
- 22/05 Cop faces charges for punching woman »
- 22/05 Police raid suspected leftist extremists »
- 22/05 NSU known as neo-Nazi 'terror cell' before killings »
- 21/05 First bison born in wild 'for centuries' »
- 21/05 States to toughen laws on drunken cycling »
- 24/05 Top Ten: English terms the French want barred »
- 24/05 Street crime hurts Paris tourism: fashion brands »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
- 24/05 China moves toward trade deal with Swiss »
- 24/05 Appenzell Innerhoden enjoys 'pure democracy' »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place
973 jobs available
684 new jobs this week
143 new jobs today
- Network Systems Engineer (m/f)
- Marketing Manager
- R&D Engineer
- Associate System Engineer
- Technical Team Lead
- (Junior) Software Developer (LAMP) (m/f)
- Store Rep
- Senior Store Lead
- Group Junior Analyst (f/m)
- Payroll Specialists (m/f)
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Collectivity and Representations of Community in Dance
With its streams of data and traffic, the present age is creating new forms of community. - Living Like a Poem – Sarah Kirsch Dies (05/23/2013)
On 5 May 2013, the poet Sarah Kirsch died after a short but serious illness in Heide in Schleswig-Holstein.... - Food trucks – meals on wheels
Small mobile restaurants are starting to catch on in Germany and they are often far more than your average snack wagons with Currywurst and Pommes. - “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition.
- So You Want to Be an Artist
The tradition of hands-on training in the arts is alive and well in Germany. Interested in studying visual, performance, or sound arts? Keen to pursue graphic and product design, textiles, or typography? Germany is home to many exceptional art schools as well as a rich history of excellence in and support for the arts. - Frankfurt's Skyscrapers: A Guide
Frankfurt is known for banks and skyscrapers. So what is behind the colossal glass, steel, and stone facades of the city’s buildings? Meet Frankfurt’s tallest. - Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength. - The all-German final in Wembley
Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium. - German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Affiliate controller m/f
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- Installation Expert New Installation and Modernization m/f
- Intern Sourcing Europe Dry 2 - Fresh (f/m)
- Internship Recruiting (Job ID: 226748)
- Quality Manager m/f
- Dance Production sucht Ballett-Tänzer
- Payroll Specialists
- Specialist Monitoring Operations
- 19/05 Car Boot Sale Herford
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Stop Smoking & Addiction Support
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 20:54 Double Public Health Insurance
- 20:46 Berlin to ban "repurposing" of living space
- 20:32 Meet 'n' Eat - LE pique-nique français
- 20:23 Where to buy Heinz baked beans
- 20:17 Festsetzung clarification - Gewinnermittlung?
- 20:01 Which garment bag would you chose?
- 19:53 Tax return after working in France and Germany
- 19:51 The Good life!
- 19:40 Saturday Night Shindig, the 30-somethings meetup
- 19:00 Saturday Night Meetup
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
Following World War Two, it was agreed by all concerned, that Germany should never be allowed again, to send armed forces into other countries to fight wars. The German army was founded on the basis of defence, not aggression.
Since Maizière has taken over, the Bundeswehr has done just the opposite. Troops are being sent into quite unnecessary conflicts, without any good reason whatsoever, but at the same time they would be completely unable to defend their own nation from most modern forms of attack.
Such a defence Minister is not only a danger to his own country, but to the NATO alliance as a whole, which is already suffering from incapable leadership and sense of direction.