Date of Report 5 August 2003
Translated 7 August 2003

INTRODUCTION

This website in general and the two books Europe's Full Circle and Fascist Europe Rising in particular point to a reprise of the politics of the 1930s and 1940s. The German Governments of those years were particularly adept at impoverishing their own people while expanding their armed services - usually illegally and against the terms of the post first world war Treaty of Versailles. Today in a Germany of over 6 million unemployed we see a similar exploitation of the German people while military spending rises and corporate investment, particularly in takeovers of East European industry, commerce and media grows. This report from our colleagues at german-foreign-policy.com is significant put in that historic context.

BERLIN (own report) A grand coalition of parties in the Berlin parliament has decided to dismantle significant social security benefits which, until now, helped to stabilize the cohesiveness of German society. In spite of warnings from church and charitable organisations against the exclusion of whole sections of society, the government is already discussing further far-reaching measures. The unresisted demolition of the German social security system is fostering aggressive reactions which are being directed abroad.

The most recent government decision has the objective of putting Berlin "Again at the top...in Europe" and to sharpen the worldwide competitiveness of the economy. To save German firms from proportionate contributions for the medical care of their workers, the government is cutting the total amount of health contributions. Complete branches of care are being cut. All payments for false teeth are discontinued. Furthermore ordinary visits to a General Practitioner will usually incur a consultation fee. Hospitals will levy a daily bed charge.

NATIONALISM

The capitalisation (i.e. privatisation) of the public health system has been accompanied by appeals which nationalistically minimise the material loss and make play with the weaknesses of other states. In a government announcement the Chancellor said "We Germans can be proud of the power of our economy, of the earnings of our people, of the strength of our nation.....Notwithstanding that, our national economy, the German national economy is what we have to improve - the strongest (sic) in Europe"

DECLINE OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES

The demolition of the public health system complements similar measures against the unemployed. According to unofficial internal estimates there are now 6.5 million Germans without work. The highest levels of unemployment are reported from East Germany where up to 30% of the population is unemployed. Their claims for payment are currently being reduced or cut completely. According to "The Federal Office for Work" the number of unemployed members of the middle classes is rising significantly.

READY FOR ACTION

Research by German sociologists shows that fear of social degradation can lead to reactions of passivity and resignation as well as aggression. It favours the predisposition to accept authoritarian promises for the future. In view of high youth unemployment, offers of military and paramilitary training have increased. Job advertisements for foreign operations by supposedly non government organisations (NGOs) have taken on an added attraction. Service pay in areas of political crisis and war zones, offered by "Private Military Companies" (PMCs) appear to offer a secure social basis for a respectable life. In this way the expansionist elements of Berlin's foreign policy are creating a pool of experienced personnel which, hoping to escape impoverishment, will be highly motivated for worldwide operations and at the disposal of a future, professional German army.

1. Regierungserklaerung des deutschen Bundeskanzlers 14.03. 2003 Government statement by German Chancellor
2. Nach offizieller Lesart betragt die Zahl der Arbeitslosen ueber 4 millionen. Diese Zahl unterliegt staendiger staatliche Bearbeitung und wird allgemein als unrealisitich angesehen. Official german unemployment figures of 4 million are generally seen as unrealistic.

See also on www.german-foreign-policy.com

"Durchgeifende Loesungen" gegen das erstarrte Parteisystem" Thorough going solutions for the paralysed party system
Der Preis der Expansion The price of expansion and Deutschland braucht "Fuehrer" Germany needs a "Fuehrer"

SOURCE

"Deutschland bewegt sich - Mehr Dynamik fuer Wachstum und Beschaeftigung" Reierungserklaerung von Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schroeder vor dem Deutschen
Bundestag am 3. Juli 2003.
Government Statement by Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to the German Federal Parliament 3 July 2003