Hamburg celebrates Veterans Day for the first time - recognition for our soldiers!

Hamburg celebrates Veterans Day for the first time - recognition for our soldiers!

On June 15, 2025, the first Veterans Day in Germany will be celebrated in Hamburg, an important initiative to recognize the achievements of active and former soldiers. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) will visit the city on this historic day and emphasizes the need to increase appreciation for the approximately ten million veterans in Germany. In the Hanseatic city, a military roll call will be held on the town hall market, during which 420 soldiers from the Helmut Schmidt University will be promoted to lieutenants.

Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) invites veterans to a reception in the town hall. This event is an opportunity to recognize the often overlooked contributions of these individuals to the security and freedom of our country. Annika Schröder, an experienced veteran, expresses the hope that Veterans Day will create greater awareness of the needs of soldiers, not only in society but also within the Bundeswehr itself.

A first step towards improvement

During the celebrations there will also be a maneuver with around 500 soldiers and civilians, which will demonstrate the transfer of troops from the port of Hamburg to the east. Nevertheless, the event is not without controversy: three smaller demonstrations, including those from the Left, have been registered in downtown Hamburg. Critics see the honor as a missed opportunity for the urgently needed reforms in the Bundeswehr, which is struggling with massive personnel problems. Defense Minister Pistorius is calling for an increase in troop numbers of up to 60,000 soldiers in order to achieve NATO goals.

“Many people have no personal contact with soldiers,” emphasizes Pistorius. Although surveys show that 80% of Germans have a positive attitude towards the Bundeswehr, it is important to build bridges between society and the helpers in uniform. Robert Müller, a former paratrooper who walks almost 100 kilometers from Hamburg to Berlin to take part in the celebrations, is an example of the reality that many veterans face. After his deployments abroad, he suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fought for twelve years to have his illness, which he contracted during a deployment in Afghanistan, recognized.

The Challenge of PTSD

The psychological stress on soldiers can be devastating. Around 3% of Bundeswehr soldiers suffer from PTSD after deployments, and around 200 new cases occur every year. This illness, which is triggered by traumatic experiences, can lead to serious symptoms such as sleep disorders, flashbacks and emotional dullness. According to a survey, 62.1% of Germans attach great importance to mental illnesses, but the number of unreported cases of PTSD remains high because symptoms often appear delayed.

In order to meet these challenges, the Bundeswehr has established a range of assistance for soldiers and former relatives with mental illnesses. In addition, the Operational Reuse Act was brought into being to support the integration of soldiers injured in action into society. General Physician Dr. Jörg Ahrens emphasizes the need to develop a culture of looking in order to overcome the taboo surrounding mental illness.

In order to increase visibility and appreciation for injured and sick soldiers, events such as the Invictus Games will also take place in Germany in the future, initiated by Prince Harry. This sporting event has the motto “A HOME FOR RESPECT” and aims to increase recognition for the brave men and women who fight for our freedom.