Protest in Germany

Farmers block planned armaments factory

There are still isolated protests by German farmers against the cuts in agricultural diesel. Now, however, the defense policy of the traffic light coalition is also being targeted by angry farmers.

On Monday, around 400 people and around 300 tractors blocked access roads to a planned new ammunition factory of the German arms company Rheinmetall in Lower Saxony. Some sections of road were closed and there were obstructions, but: "You can get through the town," said a police spokesman.

The "Peace Action South Heath" also took part in the action. Ten people protested peacefully in the form of a vigil against "armaments and war policy", as their spokesperson said. "We expect the government to have a de-escalating effect," they continued.

Ground-breaking ceremony with Scholz and Pistorius
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (both SPD) also attended the official ground-breaking ceremony for the new ammunition factory in Unterlüß in the Lüneburg Heath on Monday. Among other things, artillery ammunition is to be produced in the new "Lower Saxony plant". Unterlüß is the largest production site of the armaments group; in addition to ammunition, military vehicles such as the Puma infantry fighting vehicle are also manufactured there.