Germany braces for war – Can rearmament secure Europe?

This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

Podmasters

News, Politics, Society & Culture

4.9 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 11 June 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Germany is rearming as the Russian threat looms over Europe and much of the continent’s security rests on its success. Backed by an emergency ‘Zeitenwende’ fund and an ever-expanding defence budget, Germany is undertaking a profound military transformation with the aim of becoming Europe’s strongest conventional army. What does this mean more broadly? And where do they need to focus? Jörg Lau, foreign policy correspondent at Die Zeit, joins Gavin Esler to discuss how the budget will be spent and the challenges facing Germany – from domestic politics to European unity and the uncertainty over relations with Trump’s US administration. You can buy Jörg Lau’s new book Der Westen Sind Jetzt Wir (in German) here. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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1:38.1	The words German rearmament have a historic sound, perhaps an echo of the 1930s.
1:42.5	What's often forgotten is a more recent German rearmament in the 1950s.
1:46.8	In Germany, it was called Vida Bivathno, and it led to the creation of the Bundeswehr, the modern German army. German forces were then integrated into NATO,
1:52.0	Berlin, like all of Germany, was divided between east and west, and West Germany therefore became
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