This is The Guardian.

Today, Germany's race to rebuild its army.

Not so long ago, to be a German soldier dressed in German uniform was quite a difficult role to embody.

I mean, you could be going down the street and you could be spat on or you could have names called at you and what have you.

I've recently seen people get into conversation with soldiers, which I hadn't seen in the past. Recently, somebody going up to a soldier and getting him into conversation about what his role was,

and then at the end of the conversation thanking him.

Kate Connolly, the Guardian's Berlin correspondent, has lived in Germany for decades.

She's become used to living in a country that has defined itself around pacifism, trade and diplomacy.

A generation ago, the idea that Germany was re-arming and fast would have created alarm, even panic, both outside and inside the country.

But the world has changed since then.

You might be on a beach on the Baltic coast and see planes going over.

You might be behind a convoy of army trucks on the motorway and suddenly think, well, what's going on?

The Russian war machine is up and running.

And the United States under Donald Trump is no longer going to guarantee the security of Europe.

I love Europe and I want to see Europe go good.

But it's not heading in the right direction.

Germany now says it intends to build

the biggest conventional land army on the continent.

But can it bring its people with it?

From The Guardian, I'm Annie Kelly.

Today in focus.

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