Dear ones, I’ve just come back from the „Life and Death“ trade fair (or as my husband says: „Murder and Manslaughter“) when a photo of two Bundeswehr postcards suddenly fluttered into our family WhatsApp group. Camouflage colours in the background, with the huge lettering HARMANN and the Bundeswehr logo underneath.
Had they really personalised every single postcard? I was confused and typed three creepy emojis into the keyboard. Two minutes later, I wrote: „Tell me, didn’t our big girl get one of those or is that only reserved for male human material in our country?“
Federal Armed Forces postcards: „Off to war?“
Yeah, I wrote „man material“ because at first it felt exactly like we were now supposed to give our guys away as cannon fodder. „But it’s not a call-up“ was the response. „They’re just being fed for now. Invitation to the Bundeswehr talent scout.“
Talent scout? Are you serious? I really felt a bit sick, I admit. And looking back, there were three reasons for that. Firstly, I was startled by the martial nature of the map and I really thought for a moment: Fuck, is the war coming now? Do we really have to take precautions now?
Sometimes you just don’t want to accept world events, especially if, like me, you were born in the 1980s and have been able to live in absolute peace to this day. What kind of future can our children expect? I’m usually incredibly good at staying optimistic, but at that moment the feeling was just one thing: oppressive.
I also found it strange that our boys‘ names were written in bold letters on the card, as if it had long been clear that they would soon have to deal with sergeants and commanders. I also asked myself: Where did they get our address from? From the population register? Then this is something absolutely official. Jesus, help!
Thirdly, my maternal instinct immediately kicked in: Is the state just trying to grab my children here? Am I losing both influence and control? It really felt like an octopus reaching for them and I couldn’t protect them from it. Yes, I’m kind of a pacifist, you can tell. And I’m not a fan of unnaturally created hierarchies, of discipline and order, of drill, of power imbalances, which unfortunately can also be exploited. (All prejudices and clichés, I KNOW, but unfortunately that’s how I feel about it.)
I finally showed you the postcards on Instagram and many people wrote: „Oh God, creepy“, „I get goosebumps“, „We had this in our letterbox today too.“ The topic is moving. A colleague then sent me a photo of a kebab wrapper from Cologne that read: „Do what really counts. BITE THROUGH. Because you can.“ The Bundeswehr logo and the QR code for more information are also included here.
Another reader wrote to tell me that they had been in an ice cream parlour the day before and the cups were also printed with the Bundeswehr logo (pun intended!). She didn’t like the ice cream afterwards. She’d rather have a waffle then, wouldn’t she?But of course there were also those of you who said: Well, how else are they supposed to draw attention to themselves? How is Germany supposed to become fit for armaments again if nobody cares? And of course they’re right! Nevertheless, I would much prefer it if we didn’t have to worry about armaments at all… naive perhaps, but we have been lucky enough to be able to let the issue slide in our lives so far.
So back at home, I looked at the back of the card and felt a little more reassured. It all sounded less bad than I thought. It said: „Want to know what opportunities and prospects the Bundeswehr has to offer you? Discover over 50 training occupations and study programmes – as well as more than 1,000 different jobs in uniform or in civilian life. You can find all the information at bundeswehrkarriere.de
Be a VIP at the TALENT SCOUT on Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 28 June 2025″ Experience exclusive insights, exciting backstage tours and discover what you are made of – in your region too. Be quick now and secure one of the coveted VIP places – including a free train ticket!“
Below this is a very long data protection notice that begins: „In accordance with Section 36 (2) of the Federal Registration Act (BMG), you have not objected to the transfer of data for Section 58c of the Soldiers Act (SG). Every year, the municipal registration authorities transmit the surname, first name and address of all persons with German citizenship who will come of age in the coming year. (…)
The postcard was not only sent to male teenagers, but also to everyone else. Everyone who will turn 18 next year. Everyone in Ukraine, for example, who really will have to go to war at that age. It breaks my heart when I think of them and their families. I’d rather receive a postcard with an invitation that we can skilfully ignore and then get on with our normal everyday lives… I’m so glad that our children can just be young people in peace.
