Germany
How corporations and government finance the German trade unions
By Ulrich Rippert and Marianne Arens, 6 July 2020
With the pandemic, which has led to the deepest international economic crisis since the 1930s, the role of unions as tools of the corporations is taking on a new dimension.
German defence minister plans more effective organization of army’s far-right elite force
By Peter Schwarz, 4 July 2020
After new details came to light about the far-right terrorist networks inside the Special Forces Command, the German defence minister announced the restructuring of the army’s 1,600-strong elite unit.
Germany’s motto for the EU Council presidency: For militarism and war
By Johannes Stern, 4 July 2020
The German government’s motto for the EU Council presidency is “Gemeinsam. Europa wieder stark machen” (“Together. Making Europe strong again”)—Berlin’s counterpart to Trump’s “Make America Great Again.”
Tens of thousands of jobs at risk as works council at German automaker Daimler announces layoffs
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 3 July 2020
The works council is repeating word for word the arguments of company management and industry analysts calling for stepped up attacks on workers.
Workers in Germany express their solidarity with striking Fiat Chrysler workers
By our correspondents, 2 July 2020
The strikes at two Detroit Fiat Chrysler plants in Jefferson North and Sterling Heights against intolerable health and safety conditions for production workers have met with a powerful response from workers in Germany.
Germany: Verdi trade union sells out Galeria Kaufhof Karstadt workers
By Justus Leicht and Wolfgang Weber, 2 July 2020
Verdi brazenly claimed it would “ fight for every job and every store. ” In reality, the union and the general works council were involved in drawing up the closure plans.
Amazon workers in Germany strike against lack of coronavirus protection
By Marianne Arens, 30 June 2020
More than 2,000 Amazon workers are taking part in a 48-hour strike at six locations to protest the company’s refusal to provide adequate protection from the virus.
Merkel, Macron promote EU militarism amid growing conflicts with Washington
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 30 June 2020
The leaders of Germany and France called for stepped-up military spending and austerity to ensure Europe’s ability to wage war independently from Washington.
Germany: Police powers stepped up after “Stuttgart’s Night of Violence”
By Jan Ritter, 30 June 2020
The violence does not emanate from the population, but from the police against the population—especially against workers and young people.
The poor in Germany have a higher risk of falling sick from COVID-19
By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 30 June 2020
The poorest people in Germany, including the long-term unemployed and recipients of Hartz IV social welfare, have an 84 percent higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 and requiring hospitalization.
Warnings of a second coronavirus wave in Germany
By Marianne Arens, 29 June 2020
Following an outbreak of coronavirus infections in the Tönnies meat factory in East Westphalia, the virus is spreading rapidly to other companies and regions.
Germany: Lufthansa and the bankruptcy of the unions
By Peter Schwarz, 29 June 2020
Lufthansa will receive €9 billion in government aid, which will be used to restructure the airline, costing thousands of jobs and worsening pay and conditions.
WHO warns of “very significant” coronavirus resurgence in Europe
By Will Morrow, 27 June 2020
The resurgence is driven by governments’ reopening policy, whose aim is the full resumption of corporate profit-making, regardless of the threat to workers.
Wirecard: The German economy sinks into criminality
By Peter Schwarz, 26 June 2020
The company CEO was arrested in connection with the disappearance of 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion).
Following “night of violence” in Stuttgart
German media and politicians stoke massive campaign for a police state
By Jan Ritter and Johannes Stern, 25 June 2020
The campaign is aimed at establishing an authoritarian state in which even journalistic and satirical criticisms of the police are prohibited.
New COVID-19 outbreaks in Germany and Berlin’s inhumane quarantine conditions
By Lisa Lachlan, 25 June 2020
Since June 13, 369 households, each containing one to 10 people, have been quarantined as a result of COVID-19 infections in one of Berlin’s poorest districts.
The coronavirus crisis, the government’s aid package and the attempt to strangle German art
By Verena Nees, 25 June 2020
On closer inspection, the German government’s aid package proves to be a sham and a step towards neutering and strangling a diverse cultural landscape.
More than 1,500 COVID-19 infections at pork processing plant in Germany
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, 24 June 2020
The Tönnies Group, Germany’s largest meat processing firm, has a long record of putting profits before the health and safety of its workforce.
Germany seeks to tighten European asylum law
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 23 June 2020
The core elements are the internment of refugees at the EU’s external borders and the implementation of fast-track asylum procedures.
The scandal surrounding German MP Philipp Amthor: What is Augustus Intelligence?
By Peter Schwarz, 23 June 2020
The question arises whether Augustus Intelligence is a genuine commercial enterprise or rather a covert intelligence service operation.
Germany: Trial begins in murder of CDU politician Walter Lübcke
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 22 June 2020
The 46-year-old neo-Nazi Stephan Ernst is accused of having shot Kassel District President Walter Lübcke on his terrace on the night of June 2, 2019.
Responding to mass protests against police brutality, Germany’s Left Party appeals for a police state
By Peter Schwarz and Johannes Stern, 22 June 2020
Germany’s Left Party has responded with open hostility to the mass protests against police violence that have spread around the world following the police murder of George Floyd.
Hundreds of new COVID-19 infections in German meat industry
By Marianne Arens, 20 June 2020
More than two-thirds of the meat packers at the Tönnies abattoir in Rheda-Wiedenbrück have been infected with COVID-19, with 730 positive initial test results out of 1,050 tested.
130,000 jobs at risk in the German auto industry
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting and Peter Schwarz, 20 June 2020
Although German auto companies received a lion’s share of the government’s €130 billion stimulus package, and are collecting billions more via the short-time working scheme, the industry plans to axe more than 100,000 jobs.
German Navy prepares for worldwide military missions
By Tino Jacobson and Johannes Stern, 18 June 2020
The ruling elite is making no secret of the imperialist goals associated with the rearmament of the German Navy.
Fascist network uncovered in German Army’s Special Forces unit
By Gregor Link, 18 June 2020
”Right-wing extremist tendencies” are “tolerated” in the KSK and “sometimes consciously covered up,” wrote Der Spiegel based on a soldier’s letter.
Germany: Schools and child daycare centres open despite the high risk of infection
By Marianne Arens, 16 June 2020
The same politicians who pump hundreds of billions of euros of so-called “Corona aid” into the vaults of the big banks and leading companies see no need to equip schools with the measures needed to combat the coronavirus.
Germany’s Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party organise police violence against peaceful demonstrators
By Gregor Link, 15 June 2020
The police attacks are part of an effort to criminalise anti-capitalist tendencies.
German unions compete to offer greater cuts at Lufthansa
By Gustav Kemper, 15 June 2020
The union leaders falsely claim employees are “ stakeholders ” in the private company, but to the owners they are mere “ unit costs ” to be sacrificed to shore up profits.
VW leadership dispute prepares way for massive job cuts and austerity
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting and Ulrich Rippert, 13 June 2020
The current leadership dispute at VW ushers in a new phase of corporatist policy, aimed at preparing the company for global trade war at the expense of the workforce.
As US withdraws troops, German politicians, media step up militarist campaign
By Johannes Stern, 13 June 2020
Washington's announcement that 9,500 US soldiers stationed in Germany might be withdrawn has been met with defiant criticism and calls for a more independent German-European military policy.
German virologist Hendrik Streeck advocates “herd immunity”
By Markus Salzmann and Peter Schwarz, 11 June 2020
The controversial virologist is recommending that more coronavirus infections be allowed to occur over the summer months.
German Left Party leader Sahra Wagenknecht calls for de-globalisation
By Peter Schwarz, 11 June 2020
“Protecting workers and domestic suppliers from cheap imports and hostile takeovers is not nationalist, but a democratic duty,” Wagenknecht declares.
Protests erupt in Germany against police violence, racism and fascism
By our reporters, 9 June 2020
The outbreak of mass protests in the US against the police murder of George Floyd was the spark that ignited demonstrations in Germany against the return of the far right and the growth of unemployment and social inequality.
Hundreds of thousands join protests against police violence across Europe
By our reporters, 8 June 2020
The size and wide geographical spread of the protests over Floyd’s murder reflect broad-based opposition to racism and police violence around the world.
German corporations seize on pandemic to implement mass layoffs and welfare cuts
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting and Ulrich Rippert, 8 June 2020
In close cooperation with the German government, major firms are using the coronavirus crisis to prepare for global trade war and carry out long-planned attacks on the working class.
German government’s stimulus package: €50 billion for automakers, €1 billion for childcare
By Peter Schwarz, 8 June 2020
Like the previous bailouts, the latest package showers cash on the rich, concealed behind a few modest rations for families and will produce a further increase in social inequality.
German protests in solidarity with George Floyd and against police violence
By Jan Ritter and Noah Windstein, 5 June 2020
The brutal video-recorded murder has shocked people in Germany and many have taken to the streets in protest.
Union supports ditching temporary workers at Meyer shipyard in Germany
By Marianne Arens, 4 June 2020
The unions are on the side of those raking in billions in aid to keep the German stock market bubbling.
Germany and EU expand military deployment in Africa
By Gregor Link, 2 June 2020
German imperialism sees the crisis as an opportunity to assert its global geopolitical interests by force of arms.
Sharp rise in right-wing extremist and anti-Semitic violence in Germany
By Peter Schwarz, 1 June 2020
The number of anti-Semitic crimes rose by 13 percent over the previous year to 2,032 cases, that is, five to six each day last year.
Germany’s right-wing Bild tabloid agitates against leading virologist Christian Drosten
By Marianne Arens, 1 June 2020
The Bild sought specifically to ridicule a study in which Drosten found that children may be just as infectious as adults when they have coronavirus.
German and French trade unions back Merkel and Macron’s recovery programme
By Peter Schwarz, 30 May 2020
Trade union support for the recovery programme is a signal to Paris and Berlin that they can rely on the unflinching support on the unions in combating rivals on the global market and implementing attacks on the working class.
Workers in Germany report on corona virus infection risk in workplaces
By Ulrich Rippert, 30 May 2020
Workers highlight the lack of safety measures in public transit and factories.
Germany: Defend climate activist group “Ende Gelände” against the secret service
By Peter Schwarz, 29 May 2020
An official secret service report classifies the climate change movement “Ende Gelände” (“End of the Road”), which has organized several mass protests against opencast lignite mining, as “left-wing extremist.”
Germany’s Left Party spearheading deadly back-to-work drive
By Johannes Stern, 26 May 2020
After voting for the multi-billion-euro coronavirus bailout package in the federal parliament, the Left Party is now supporting the grand coalition’s reopening of the economy.
Thyssenkrupp in Germany to be broken up
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 26 May 2020
With the approval of hedge funds and the IG Metall trade union, the supervisory board of Germany’s Thyssenkrupp company has decided to break up the industrial group.
High COVID-19 infection rates among doctors and nurses in Germany
By Markus Salzmann, 25 May 2020
According to the public health body Robert Koch Institute, more than 20,000 workers in German hospitals, doctors’ practices, nursing homes and care services are now infected.
As hundreds across Europe die daily from coronavirus
European Union pushes reopening of beach resorts and hotels for summer holiday season
By Jordan Shilton, 23 May 2020
Piling one lie on another, the EU Commission claimed its guidelines would restore “transport services across the EU while protecting the health of transport workers and passengers.”
Representatives from Germany’s parliamentary parties support far-right protests against coronavirus policies
By Christoph Vandreier, 23 May 2020
The far-right demonstrations in Germany are being used to drum up support for the dangerous policy of easing coronavirus pandemic restrictions and intimidate all opposition.
Widespread opposition to unsafe reopening of schools and day-care facilities in Germany
By Andy Niklaus and Ulrich Rippert, 23 May 2020
Social distancing has been abandoned in schools and no safety measures such as face masks are being provided.
Merkel and Macron’s European bailout: €500 billion for trade war and austerity
By Peter Schwarz, 22 May 2020
Merkel and Macron see the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to strengthen their countries’ position in the world market and reorganise the European economy in the interests of the major corporations.
Coronavirus infections surging in German refugee shelters
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 21 May 2020
The forced placement of refugees in large communal accommodation facilities exposes many people whose health is weakened to a deadly risk.
Mass sackings as German department store group closes up to 80 stores
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 19 May 2020
Germany’s largest department store group, the merged Galeria Kaufhof Karstadt, is to close almost half of its stores.
Growing resistance in Germany to returning to schools as coronavirus pandemic continues
By Andy Niklaus and Carola Kleinert, 18 May 2020
Resistance is growing among German teachers and pupils against this irresponsible policy, which threatens to turn schools into new hotspots of COVID-19.
German Defence Ministry plans to wage international drone warfare
By Gregor Link, 18 May 2020
Germany’s ruling elite is responding to the mounting tensions between the major powers triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic by intensifying its drive to war.
Coronavirus crisis exposes devastating conditions in the German meat processing industry
By Marianne Arens, 16 May 2020
German slaughterhouses have become coronavirus hotspots, with hundreds of workers, most of them sub-contracted from Eastern Europe, infected with the virus.
Rushed relaxation of coronavirus measures in Germany puts thousands of lives at risk
By Marianne Arens, 15 May 2020
With the general relaxation of the coronavirus measures, cases in schools, retirement homes, local transport, industry and the entire working population are inevitably on the rise again.
“Corona demonstrations” in Germany: Neo-Nazis join hands with Free Democrats, Christian Democrats and Left Party
By Peter Schwarz, 15 May 2020
The FDP’s leader in Thuringia, Thomas Kemmerich, participated in a demonstration against the measures put in place to restrict the spread of the coronavirus. Like other such mobilisations in Germany, it was dominated by the extreme right.
German auto bosses demand government subsidies and job cuts
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 15 May 2020
The German auto industry is using the coronavirus crisis to implement its long-planned transition to electro-mobility and digitalisation. Its main partner is the company union, the IG Metall.
German armed forces deploy 300 soldiers to EU mission “Irini” in Mediterranean
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 14 May 2020
The mission’s mandate includes stopping and searching ships suspected of transporting weapons to Libya.
German politicians and media laud right-wing demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions
By Christoph Vandreier, 13 May 2020
The ruling elite is now mobilising the right-wing dregs of society in the “corona” demonstrations to intimidate the population and enforce their back-to-work campaign.
Rising number of COVID-19 deaths in Germany’s retirement and care homes
By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 12 May 2020
As the German government is effectively ending its coronavirus lockdown, reports about people dying of COVID-19 in retirement and care homes are increasing.
Hundreds of COVID-19 infections in German meatpacking plants
By Marianne Arens, 11 May 2020
Immigrants from Romania, who are the main workers in the German meatpacking industry, are now being struck down by COVID-19.
Verdict published in NSU trial: German court protects neo-Nazi André Eminger
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 11 May 2020
From the outset the intention of the NSU trial in Munich was to cover up the involvement of Germany’s domestic intelligence service and other security agencies.
Seventy-five years after the end of World War II
Right-wing ideologues in Germany demand sacrifice of human lives in coronavirus pandemic
By Christoph Vandreier, 11 May 2020
Three-quarters of a century after the end of the most brutal war in world history, the German ruling elite is returning to authoritarian and ultimately fascist policies to enforce militarism and inequality.
Germany reopens schools, endangering thousands of lives
By Marianne Arens, 9 May 2020
Schools are being reopened in nearly all federal states and the risky measure is meeting with growing opposition from teachers.
German government ends lockdown, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk
By Johannes Stern, 8 May 2020
Three weeks after the decision of the federal and state governments to gradually withdraw the restrictions imposed in March, the end of the lockdown in Germany has largely been completed.
German government plans purchase of 138 fighter jets and prepares for nuclear war
By Gregor Link and Johannes Stern, 7 May 2020
Germany’s government is preparing to purchase 93 Eurofighters and 45 US-made F-18 fighter jets for a total cost of almost €20 billion.
German auto companies demand even more state money
By Ulrich Rippert, 7 May 2020
Along with hunting for government stimulus packages, the auto companies are ramping up production again despite the dangers to workers' health and lives.
Playing Russian roulette with hundreds of thousands of lives
German big business demands end to lockdown
By Peter Schwarz, 6 May 2020
Two weeks after the initial lifting of some of the coronavirus lockdown's restrictions in Germany, demands for its total abandonment have reached fever pitch.
German authorities press charges in Lübcke murder case
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 6 May 2020
The neo-Nazi Stephan Ernst is accused of having shot leading Christian Democratic politician Walter Lübcke in cold blood on the terrace of his home on the night of June 2, 2019.
Think tank sees coronavirus crisis as “opportunity” for German militarism
By Gregor Link, 4 May 2020
The German Council on Foreign Relations calls for a “comprehensive conflict strategy” in order to emerge “even stronger” from the crisis.
Euro zone economy contracts at record pace
By Nick Beams, 2 May 2020
The European Central Bank has taken the same road as the US Fed, committing itself to pump still more money across the board into the financial markets.
German government accelerates its deadly back-to-work initiative
By Johannes Stern, 2 May 2020
Despite the continuing spread of the COVID-19 internationally, the German government is accelerating its lifting of the limited restrictions imposed to prevent transmission of the virus.
Nearly 300 meat-processing workers infected by coronavirus at German slaughterhouse
By Marianne Arens, 2 May 2020
While almost 300 workers at a Baden-Württemberg slaughterhouse have COVID-19, the plant remains open.
Germany: Daimler trains managers to kick out workers
By Ulrich Rippert, 2 May 2020
Daimler department heads and other managers are being trained to put pressure on individual workers to “implement the job cuts as smoothly as possible.”
Germany’s Lufthansa: Billions in state aid and mass layoffs
By Peter Schwarz, 2 May 2020
The airline unions are appealing to Chancellor Merkel for state intervention.
Sixty-eight Amazon workers fall ill with COVID-19 at Winsen, Germany warehouse
By Marianne Arens, 1 May 2020
While Amazon has profited massively from the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of its workers throughout the world have become infected with COVID-19.
Profits before human life: German parliament president Schäuble wins broad support in the establishment
By Peter Schwarz, 30 April 2020
The German ruling class is marking the 75th anniversary of Hitler’s suicide in the Führer bunker by discussing how many human lives should be sacrificed in the coronavirus crisis.
German students oppose reopening of schools
By our reporters, 30 April 2020
Under the slogan “average grade 2020,” students are demanding the suspension of final exams and the closing of schools so long as the lives of students, teachers and their relatives are at risk from COVID-19.
Germany: IG Metall and works council force Volkswagen workers back despite coronavirus danger
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting and Peter Schwarz, 28 April 2020
Production is starting up again at Volkswagen ’ s main plant, the largest car factory in Europe with 63,000 employees , as the company plays roulette with the health and lives of its workforce.
Growing resistance in Germany to the opening up of schools
By Andy Niklaus and Carola Kleinert, 28 April 2020
”From the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, I have only seen economic interests at work,” said one high school student.
German parliament president calls for sacrificing lives for corporate profits
By Johannes Stern, 28 April 2020
The ruling class’s back-to-work offensive, which threatens a major resurgence of COVID-19, has long been accompanied by a media-driven campaign with fascistic characteristics.
Workers at Dublin Bus rebel at lack of personal protective equipment
By Dermot Byrne, 27 April 2020
One Irish driver explained: “There is a general feeling the union doesn’t act in the interests of the bus workers.”
Germany: Daimler and VW boost production and demand billions in taxpayers’ money
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 27 April 2020
Although around 2,500 people in Germany are being infected with the coronavirus every day, Daimler and Volkswagen both restarted car production this week.
Romanian harvest worker in Germany dies of COVID-19
By Anna Rombach and Marianne Arens, 27 April 2020
The death of the 57-year-old Nicolae Bahan has cast a grim light on the terrible conditions confronting harvest workers coming from Eastern Europe to toil in Germany ’ s fields.
German government endangers the health and lives of millions with return to work and schools
By Johannes Stern, 25 April 2020
A number of state governments—including the Social Democrat/Left Party/Green government in Berlin—forced thousands of students back to school earlier this week to sit their final exams.
Germany’s right-wing Bild newspaper agitates against China
By Peter Schwarz, 23 April 2020
The accusation serves to divert attention away from the ruling elite’s failure to deal with the pandemic, while at the same time whipping up public opinion for war with China.
Germany: Opening Berlin schools risks the lives of teachers, pupils and their families
By Carola Kleinert and Andy Niklaus, 22 April 2020
“We must learn to live with the pandemic,” Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed.
Germany’s Left Party backs multibillion-euro bailout of banks and big business
By Johannes Stern, 22 April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has thoroughly exposed the class character and political orientation of the Left Party and its pseudo-left satellites.
Europe’s pandemic death toll passes 100,000
By Robert Stevens, 20 April 2020
The five major states in Europe—Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK—account for around 85,000 of the 100,000 plus deaths.
How German CEOs are profiting from the coronavirus crisis
By Peter Schwarz, 20 April 2020
An article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung details how the executives of major German corporations are raking in millions from the COVID-19 crisis.
German automakers, unions and government collaborate to restart production
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 18 April 2020
Germany’s automakers and the IG Metall trade union are demanding that production be restarted.
Big business representatives defend hospital closures in Germany
By Markus Salzmann, 18 April 2020
Economist Boris Augurzky claims that there are too many hospitals, and has called for the crisis to be used to further reduce the number of facilities.
Munich tram drivers speak out on dangerous conditions during coronavirus pandemic
By our reporters, 16 April 2020
Reports from two tram drivers illustrate the irresponsible actions of the MVG management putting workers at increased risk of infection and death.
German National Academy of Sciences demands reopening of primary schools
By Peter Schwarz, 15 April 2020
The call for human life to be weighed against economic value runs through the statement from start to finish.
Germany: Hesse politicians and employers expose workers to risk of COVID-19 infection
By Marianne Arens, 15 April 2020
Refuse workers report how they are given no protection and are expected to travel home in their dirty overalls.
German airline Lufthansa receives multibillion-euro bailout, prepares to cut 18,000 jobs
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 14 April 2020
Europe’s largest airline, is exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to implement long-planned attacks on their workforces.
No work without protection! Berlin transport worker issues appeal for independent workers committees
By Andy Niklaus, 14 April 2020
A serious fight against the coronavirus pandemic must focus on the interests of the broad masses of the population, not the profits of the wealthy few.
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