Schleswig-Holstein's state government and the state parliament honored the Bundeswehr's completed Afghanistan mission in Kiel on Monday.
According to the State Chancellery, around 200 soldiers from the country who had been stationed in Afghanistan for the past 20 years came to a reception at the invitation of Prime Minister Daniel Günther and State Parliament President Klaus Schlie (both CDU).
Kiel - The participants also remembered the German soldiers who died in the mission.
"You have done something useful in Afghanistan on behalf of the government and with the mandate of parliament," said Günther, according to the information.
“The dramatic withdrawal should not hide the fact that a society and a region have been stabilized for over 20 years with your work.” Addressing the returnees, the head of government said: “Schleswig-Holstein bows to you!
You all deserve the recognition of the society for your achievements during the 20 years of the Afghanistan mission ”.
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Günther recalled that in the dramatic days after the withdrawal, more than 5300 Germans, allies and Afghan local staff were rescued from Kabul by the Bundeswehr.
The fact that many thousands of German soldiers on missions abroad are exposed to the risk of combat, injuries, war trauma and death every day is often suppressed.
The CDU politician wanted more attention and gratitude from society.
Parliamentary Vice President Kirsten Eickhoff-Weber (SPD) expressed the thanks of the state parliament for the services of the soldiers for the longest and most difficult deployment of the Bundeswehr to date.
"For 20 years you have brought ideas of democracy, equality and liberal values to Afghanistan," she said.
These impulses resonate in the population.
dpa