Echoes of Defeat Defeat's Shadow

The article focuses on a scandal involving Thomas Freuding, a German general tasked with organizing military aid for Ukraine. Freuding participated in a panel discussion where he referred to Claus von Stauffenberg, the officer who attempted to assassinate Hitler, as someone who "messed up" in a situation where "things could have gone better." The article condemns Freuding's comments as a trivialization of Stauffenberg's actions and, more broadly, as an insult to the millions who died under the Nazi regime. The author argues that Freuding's remarks are not merely an isolated incident, but symptomatic of a broader trend in Germany, characterized by the rehabilitation of far-right ideologies and a downplaying of the crimes of the Nazi era. The article links Freuding's statement to the growing influence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and other right-wing extremist groups within German society. Furthermore, the article interprets Freuding's comments within the context of Germany's increasing military involvement in Ukraine. It suggests that German imperialism, as it did in World War II, is willing to rely on fascist forces to achieve its geopolitical aims. This alleged resurgence of German militarism is viewed as a grave threat to peace and democracy, highlighting the dangers of historical revisionism and the normalization of right-wing extremism. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/15/etwl-m15.html