Anna Martel | Communist Organization (Kommunistische Organisation, Germany)
On 2 October 1904, almost exactly 120 years ago, General Lothar von Trotha issued his cruel order of extermination against the Herero and Nama peoples: ‘Within the German borders, every Herero with or without a rifle, with or without cattle, will be shot. I will take no more women or children, but will drive them back to their people or have them shot.’ Up to 95,000 Herero and Nama were murdered by the German colonizers in present-day Namibia by 1908. Those who survived were further exploited in concentration and labour camps for interests of the German colonialism. Skulls of the victims were exported for racist research purposes and the land was occupied by German settlers, who still own 70 % of the Namibian land today. The crimes that Germany committed in its colonies later served as a blueprint for its crimes during the period of Hitlerite fascism. But, when we look back on these disgusting crimes, we also look at the decisive and courageous resistance of the oppressed against their oppressors. We owe it to them to continue the fight against the colonial/ neocolonial gangs of robbers, including Germany, and to lead these struggles to their success.
German imperialism was always said to be especially aggressive. The reason for that was the late unification of Germany as a state in 1871, and by the time Germany was able to industrialise itself, the other imperialist powers had already expanded their reach into the world. Meaning, the only way the German bourgeoise could get its share of the colonies, was by fighting the existing colonizers who were already occupying the foreign lands. Thus, the German imperialism’s especially aggressive drive to fight wars. However, things did not work out the way German imperialism had planned, as it lost WWI and was forced to hand over its colonies to other imperialists. However, this defeat did not force the German monopoly capital to abandon its imperialist ambitions. With the establishment of Hitlerite Fascism, German imperialism made another attempt at expansion leading to WWII.
After the liberation of Germany from fascism, the capitalist Federal Republic of Germany (Westgermany) not only rehabilitated many Nazis in its own ranks, but also did everything it could to support fascist and reactionary regimes such as Portugal under Salazar in their fight against the national liberation movements of the PAIGC in Guinea-Buissau and Cap Verde or the FRELIMO in Mozambique. When the US limited arms exports to Portugal in the 60s, the FRG jumped in. The first socialist state on German soil on the other hand, the GDR in East Germany, took a completely different approach, but more on that later.
Today, we once again see the rise of German militarism, which is taking place side by side with the rehabilitation of fascism in the country. 79 years after the liberation from fascism in Germany, German imperialism is not only sending its tanks to be used in the war against Russia again, but also actively supports the genocide of the Palestinians. In pursuing the ongoing war drive in Germany, it is revising and falsifying its own fascist history and its legacy. In order to fight against Russia, the memory of the liberation from fascism, mainly through the Red Army, needs to be wiped out. Commemorations of this and the sacrifice of 27 million Soviet lives lost in this struggle are being banned. Germany’s bourgeoisie is establishing a new remembrance culture in order to fight its wars. This includes openly supporting Ukrainian fascists who proudly refer to their history of collaboration with Hitlerite fascism, while portraying itself as committed fighter against antisemitism. Germany’s antisemitic history is used to silence every voice speaking up for the Palestinian and to be one of the fiercest supporters of the settler colonial entity Israel, to which Germany has increased its arms exports tenfold last year.
All this comes with a huge rise in the racist dehumanization of Russians as well as Palestinians and Muslims in general through German media and politicians, who are clearly building up on that cruel colonial thinking of a “master race’. Especially anti-Muslim racism and incitement is playing a terrifying role in legitimising imperialist crimes. Not only associations and organisations of the Palestine solidarity movement have been banned, but also religious Muslim associations. Meanwhile the criminal law is tightened, and more anti-democratic and draconian measures are being introduced to repress the Palestine solidarity and anti-Nato movement. The massive attacks on religious freedom, freedom of speech and assembly, in addition to tightening border controls, cuts to social services for asylum seekers and forced deportations, are only part of the general dismantling of fundamental rights.
At the same time, projects to strengthen the national and European arms industry are being undertaken. In 2022 a special budget of 100 billion dollars to increase the military spending was passed by the German ruling class. Moreover, debates on the reintroduction of compulsory military service have been revived. This summer, the German minister of war already made clear Germany’s intention of being capable of fighting a direct war by 2029. A new NATO command in Germany, which is supposed to start its work this year, as well as the planned stationing of US medium-range missiles in Germany have further brought the People of Europe and the region under the direct threat of war.
Despite the obvious and historically grown dependence on the politics and economy of US imperialism, we warn against not taking seriously enough the efforts of German imperialism to regain its former strength and label it only as a vassal of the US. German imperialism is an important ally for the US and has often actively supported its crimes, for example by hosting the headquarters of AFRICOM, from where the war on Libya was waged. But it also follows its own strategy of power, in which the EU is crucial. German monopoly capital loots other EU countries for its own benefit while playing the moral leader. Especially Eastern European people serve as cheap work forces and Germany floods their countries with its export-oriented industry, while looting cheap energy. It also tries to implement military impact through the EU. Several military operations in Africa can be categorized in this context, which includes the German military mission to Mali in 2013. The EU comes with its own contradictions, be it between France and Germany or in the differing interests with the US―for example concerning China. While Germany’s military goals within the EU might not be that successful yet, the economic success that Germany gains through the EU is definite. It is crucial for the communist movement to have a proper analysis of inter-imperialist contradictions in order to determine a common strategy and tactics. Understanding the role of EU and Germany must be a part of this.
The resistance against the rearmament in our country is weak. Even though the social benefits are being dismantled and the costs of living are rising, the trade unions are fully toeing the government’s line instead of leading protests against the social cuts and the war-mongering. The peace movement too is deeply fragmented, undermined and integrated with the bourgeois ideology. On the other hand, the far right is winning more people to its ranks as they are becoming increasingly disillusioned and frustrated with the anti-social warmongering politics of the ruling parties.
Nevertheless, the lavishly constructed façade of ‘human rights imperialists’, who try to disguise their looting of the world with ‘feminist or value based foreign policies’ is crumbling. In Germany it might still be a minority that does not believe these lies anymore, but especially in Africa we are witnessing a rise of protest against imperial policies.
We do look with great respect to the peoples of the Sahel, who have long since grown tired of letting their oppressors dictate their lives. We therefore welcome the measures that the military governments that have come to power in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have implemented in their fight for national sovereignty and self-determination, particularly against French and US imperialism in recent years. While 140 years ago, European imperialists sat together to divide Africa among them at the ‘Berlin Conference’―we witness today the struggle for national independence against the colonial relations taking new strides. The formation of the Alliance des Etats du Sahel a year ago is a significant step in the struggle for economic sovereignty, integrity and against the balkanisation of the African continent. In the same vein, we welcome the removal of the German soldiers from Niger and also from Mali, whose presence just like the French, have brought nothing but instability and chaos in the region. Today, the hopes of the German imperialists are being shattered in one country after another by a new generation of Goitas, Tschianis and Traorés who are teaching much needed lessons to the arrogant colonizers.
Likewise, we express our solidarity with all African and oppressed peoples who courageously rise up against the various forms of imperialism in the 21st century. Whether it is in Kenya against the neo-colonial politics and attacks by the corrupt Ruto government, whether it is in Congo against the ongoing bleeding of a nation with the help of the puppets Uganda and Rwanda, or whether it is in Western Sahara, which continues to fight against its Moroccan occupiers.
The intensifying national liberation struggles in the Sahel region and other parts of Africa are a lesson and an inspiration for revolutionaries all over the world and we are eager to learn more. In light of the immense propaganda spread by the imperialists against these struggles, which many in the European left and communist movement fall for, we look forward to making use of the present opportunity to understand the concrete conditions and challenges faced by the struggles here. We also see this conference as an opportunity to revive and intensify the international exchange based in scientific analysis among various anti-imperialist forces, an exchange that is vital for building a common analysis for the correct orientation of struggles against imperialism.
In doing so, it is worth to recall the important acts of international solidarity with national liberation struggles carried out by the German Democratic Republic, which was founded 75 years ago. Unlike the current German ruling class which actively fights against the liberation struggles, the socialist state GDR actively supported these struggles. In acting in accordance with the principles of proletarian internationalism, the GDR gave military support and recognition to Palestine, trained students from countries like Mozambique and Angola, instead of poaching them the way current ruling establishment does.
The GDR acted according to proletarian internationalism because it was a socialist country. The unity of interests of the national liberation movement, the anti-capitalist struggles and the socialist countries in the fight against imperialism was the concrete and guiding political programme for the GDR. Here, the formation of an independent economic basis and means of defence against imperialism was actively and practically supported. A historical tendency towards dependency and backwardness was to be broken. Relationships on an equal footing and for the actual mutual benefit were to be established.
We draw inspiration from that for our struggles today, keep that memory of international solidarity during the socialist period vivid and in this sense try to build new international relations that work towards combating imperialism and eventually build socialism.
Long live international solidarity!
