Thousands of protesters gathered in the streets of Berlin on Thursday to demonstrate against Germany’s continued support for arms deliveries to Ukraine and Israel while expressing concerns about a possible nuclear escalation. The protest, organized by various peace and left-wing groups, coincided with German Unity Day, commemorating the unification of West Germany and communist East Germany in 1990.
Participants brandished banners bearing messages such as “Peace,” “Never again war,” and “Diplomats instead of grenades.” Some demonstrators displayed solidarity with the Palestinians, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Gaza. Several participants were seen waving Russian and Palestinian flags, while others held up banners featuring Russian, Ukrainian, and German flags with the word “friendship” underneath.
The rally’s organizers claimed that over 40,000 people attended the event, although police reported a number in the low five figures. No significant incidents were reported during the protest.
Among the high-profile attendees was left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht, who leads her own recently formed political party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW. Addressing the crowd, she emphasized the importance of dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Wagenknecht criticized the German government for following the United States’ lead on foreign policy and expressed concerns about the potential deployment of American intermediate-range missiles within Germany. She also condemned the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, accusing those who remain silent about alleged war crimes there of hypocrisy.
Germany has become one of Ukraine’s primary donors, supplying tanks, air defense systems, and artillery to Kiev. Russia has consistently decried these weapons shipments, arguing that they merely prolong the conflict. Additionally, Germany exports a substantial amount of war materiel to Israel. Last month, several media outlets reported that German arms exports had been scaled back due to concerns that they may violate humanitarian law.