Counter-speech to Schwarzer, Nuhr & Co.: Intellectuals advocate arms deliveries in an open letter

Created: 05/04/2022Updated: 05/04/2022 16:12

By: Katja Thorwarth

Deniz Yücel (l.), Herta Müller (m.) and Sascha Lobo (r.): They are among the signatories of the open letter to Olaf Scholz.

© Photos: Sven Simon/Imago Images, Arne Dedert/dpa, Hofmann/Imago Images |

Collage: IPPEN.MEDIA

Another open letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz continues the controversy over German arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Frankfurt – In a letter published by Zeit Online on Wednesday, intellectuals reacted to Alice Schwarzer's "Open Letter" to Chancellor Scholz, which was published in Emma and was directed against arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Around the former Green Party politician Ralf Fücks, the undersigned expressly advocate the delivery of heavy weapons in the Russian war of aggression.

Their letter is intended to encourage Olaf Scholz to "quickly implement the Bundestag's resolution on arms deliveries to Ukraine."

There is no difference between "defensive" and "offensive" armaments, since "in the hands of those attacked" "tanks and howitzers are also defensive weapons".

After all, they were used “for self-defense,” the letter says.

Zeit Online lists 57 celebrities from the cultural sector, the media, science and politics as the first to sign.

In addition to Fücks, these include the writers Daniel Kehlmann and Maxim Biller, the former head of the Stasi agency Marianne Birthler, the authors Eva Menasse and Herta Müller, the publisher Mathias Döpfner, blogger Sascha Lobo and the journalists Stephan Anpalagan and Deniz Yücel.  

Open letter to Olaf Scholz: Intellectuals plead for arms delivery

"Anyone who wants a negotiated peace that does not result in Ukraine's submission to Russian demands must strengthen its defense capabilities and weaken Russia's war capabilities as much as possible," the signatories continue.

In addition, an extension of economic sanctions to the energy sector is called for, also because it is in Germany's interest to prevent the Russian war of aggression from being successful.

Regarding fears that the war in Ukraine will continue to escalate, the letter said: "Every war carries the risk of an escalation to the extreme.

However, the danger of a nuclear war cannot be averted by making concessions to the Kremlin that encourage it to undertake further military adventures.” The danger of a nuclear escalation by Russia must be countered by credible deterrence.

Counter-letter from intellectuals to Olaf Scholz: "Prevent wars of expulsion and extermination"

"This requires determination and unity in Europe and the West instead of Germany going its own way," argue the authors of the letter.

At the same time, they emphasize that there are good reasons to avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia.

But: "German history requires every effort to prevent renewed expulsion and extermination wars." (ktho with epd/dpa)