The military exercise “Red Storm Charlie” took place in Hamburg from Thursday to Saturday. The relocation of soldiers and material to the east in the event of war was practiced, in which civilian institutions and companies also took part. A variety of resistance emerged against the exercise.

In Hamburg it was fromThursday to Saturday War was practiced - tanks rolled through the streets, caring for large numbers of injured people was practiced and scenarios such as a power outage were played out. In total, approximately 500 soldiers and 60 organizations took part, and more than 70 armored military vehicles drove through the city. Dealing with demonstrators was also tested.

As part of the Bundeswehr exercise “Red Storm Charlie”, the relocation of troops and material to the east should be practiced. The Bundeswehr, but also Hamburg authorities, aid organizations and companies were involved. It was not the first exercise of this kind, but took place for the third year in a row, and a similar exercise is planned for next year.

The Chamber of Commerce also had, in parallel with Red Storm Charlie, “Red Storm Business“ called up - action days on which companies could voluntarily practice in the event of war or disaster. For example, these took partAirbus, Edeka, hotels and a pharmacyand practiced dealing with power outages or cyber attacks.

Edeka Group and Schwarz Group support the Bundeswehr exercise “Red Storm Charlie”

Concert for peace and educational opportunities

There was no lack of resistance during this major military exercise. The “Rheinmetall Disarmen” alliance, like many other organizations, called for people to oppose Red Storm Charlie. The maneuver corresponds to “with a general development of massive redistribution from social to defense“and is thus part of the preparation to make German society fit for war.

Protests against the exercise took place in advance. That's how it becameEnd of Augusta banner with the inscription “from Bismarck to today, the people are being burned” was attached to a Bismarck monument, and on September 17th. Red paint was thrown at an SPD office in Altona and “Stop Red Storm Charlie” was written.

Various protest actions were carried out during the maneuver, such as:concertfor peace on Thursday afternoon, which took place under the motto “those who play music don’t march”, or variousEducational and cultural offeringsin the old Elbpark, such as a lecture on the background to the Bundeswehr exercise and similar exercises in previous years.

Track blockade against arms deliveries

But there were also more combative actions: On Friday morningblockedAround 60 activists from Ende Gelaende and Rheinmetall disarm freight train tracks to the port. The focus was on the arms deliveries from Germany to Israel, Ende Gelände spokeswoman Thevasagayam said: "The evidence of genocide has long been overwhelming. We are standing in the way of this crime today."

The blockade was maintained for almost the entire day and weapons deliveries were delayed. After more than 12 hours, the police cleared the blockade and used strong force - paramedics had to be deployed and press representatives were threatened. “What we have experienced here is the state enforcing internal militarization more and more unrestrainedly,” says Luca Hirsch from Rheinmetall Disarmen.

Color attacks on various war actors

Activists also marked several Hamburg companies with paint and stickers. With the campaign, they drew attention, among other things, to the Reyher company on Haferweg, which produces fasteners. Alliance spokeswoman Jule Liebig explained that the company supplies screws and connecting parts to Rheinmetall, the largest German arms company, and is therefore part of the “war machine”.

EDEKA was also marked: The company took part in the NATO maneuvers in Hamburg as part of the so-called civil-military cooperation with the Bundeswehr. Liebig criticized that companies like EDEKA were using social fears to maximize their own profits.

The Rheinmetall supplier Lippold GmbH and a Bundeswehr career advice center were also marked. With the action, the activists wanted to send a clear signal: They were not ready for war, rejected the wars of those in power and did not want to have to stand up for a country that was also continually cutting back on social infrastructure.

Red Storm Charlie at the school strike

Also atSchool strike against conscription, which also took place on Friday, the focus was on Red Storm Charlie, so the slogan “All together against Red Storm Charlie” was heard a lot. The strike was much smaller than the previous ones, but was strongly influenced by socialist and class struggle positions.

Tens of thousands of young people on fourth school strike: “We’ll strike until conscription is off the table”

The big one marked the end of the action daysantimilitarist demonstrationfrom Rheinmetall Disarmen under the motto: “Hamburg remains unsuitable!”. Around 2,500 participants started at the Landungsbrücken at 3 p.m. and marched loudly and with colorful fireworks through the Hafencity to the Berlin Gate. Jule Liebig from Rheinmetall Disarmen sums up the main focus: "It is clear that the reduction of the welfare state and the government's plans to make us 'war ready' are directly related. We are not taking part and are resisting. Not a single person, not a cent from the Bundeswehr!"

Rheinmetall Disarmen sees the days of action as a complete success: Red Storm Charlie has shown that we have to defend ourselves even more resolutely against the rearmament. “The action days in Hamburg were just the beginning!”

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