Originally published in <em>Profane Existence</em> #10 (April 1991)
We want to tell you a bit about the things going on here in Germany during the last weeks of the Gulf War. Since Germany's peace-movement was very strong until two weeks ago, the government was extremely concerned about it's image in the world. Media reported that the movement was narrow minded and one-sided. While demonstrations were mainly against weapon-manufacturing industry and the straight into war leading politics of the American government, media described it as left-over anti-Americanism from the '80's (anti-nuclear weapon movement). The real message of the protesting people and their ideas of a peaceful solution of the conflict was not picked up at all.
Before the war eighty percent of the German population were against the war. Now, after four weeks of massive bombardment and only astonishing pictures of a clean computerized weapon show on TV, seventy-five percent of the people think, that the war is right. Propaganda does it's job!
Nevertheless, on January 26, there was a big demonstration in Bonn where about 250,000 people came together from all over the country (though it was bloody cold). Then for the first time, media reports showed our opinions and ideas realistically.
The German Workers Association (DGB) organized a short warn strike in all factories for five minutes to show that they are concerned about what they produce, too. But not too many workers followed the request. On the other side workers organized strikes themselves, for example at 'Bosch', where also war material is produced. Hundreds of reservists in each city refused to support the war (army service is a duty in Germany). This was a quite effective action. Only in January there were over 22,000 conscientious objectors. Small direct actions were done all over the country. For example, blockades of the American airbase at Frankfurt, which plays a major role in the supply of American troops in the gulf. Also peaceful blockades of American troops in the railway stations, weapon producing (MBB, SIEMENS,...) and oil manufacturing companies (ESSO, DEA,...) were organized. But also, to keep people from getting into everyday life again blockades of highways and bridges during rush-hours. There were also some radical actions, a bomb in a warehouse, a raid of a freight train, the explosion of a fuel lorry and several actions in German army buildings (they will need a new painting!). There were some efforts to reach American soldiers in their barracks. An organization was founde to hide American soldiers who deserted from army service. In some cases soldiers went back to the barracks, advised by their lawyer better to discharge legally. Once at the gate they were forced to enter the next plane to the gulf. Nothing was heard of them since then.
Since criticism got louder on Germans acting like appeasers, the peace movement was condemned more and more by mass media. While at the beginning of the war police even sympathized with the protesters, now conflicts with the police occur more often. Also the number of arrested people is increasing on each demo. The result of the media campaign and the criminalization of protests by the state is, that only the hard core of the peace and anti-imperialist movement still shows protest on the street.
By now, Germany's image has massively improved, since the government paid 13 billion dollars to the U.S. and England. Peace movement and protests is not talked about anymore, but information is totally neglected and suppressed. It's just the question who will pay the bomb tax, Government wants to collect for a peaceful world.