NATO in Transition - A Year with the Soldiers – DW – 06/06/2025
Are the German armed forces prepared for the challenges of the future? With the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, German defense policy arrived at a so-called "turning point'.
But can it succeed?
Image: SWR
The German army is facing enormous challenges: It has too few personnel, too little equipment, too little budget. And, for many years, it was not geared towards the kind of war for which it must now prepare.
Image: SWR
Namely, a possible defensive war within its own national borders, as well as the capacity to fight alongside NATO partners in the event of an attack on a NATO member.
Image: SWR
The film explores this dramatic upheaval, from the perspective of the people who must shoulder the task of "national and alliance defense' in their everyday lives, within their units.
Image: SWR
Yannick recently started training in a new tank. Samira is a recruit - one of a group the German army is desperately looking for. Andreas pilots a 30-year-old reconnaissance aircraft along NATO's eastern border.
Image: SWR
Joachim is a lecturer and is supposed to make sure that his soldiers understand what this "turning point' means for them. Three male soldiers and one female soldier are the focus of this film.
Broadcasting Hours:
DW English
FRI 13.06.2025 – 01:15 UTC
FRI 13.06.2025 – 04:15 UTC
SAT 14.06.2025 – 13:15 UTC
SUN 15.06.2025 – 19:15 UTC
MON 16.06.2025 – 09:15 UTC
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MON 16.06.2025 – 21:15 UTC
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NATO in Transition - A Year with the Soldiers – DW – 06/06/2025
Are the German armed forces prepared for the challenges of the future? With the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, German defense policy arrived at a so-called "turning point'. But can it succeed? Image: SWR The German army is facing enormous challenges: It has too few personnel, too little equipment, too little budget. And, for many years, it was not geared towards the kind of war for which it must now prepare. Image: SWR Namely, a possible defensive war within its own national borders, as well as the capacity to fight alongside NATO partners in the event of an attack on a NATO member. Image: SWR The film explores this dramatic upheaval, from the perspective of the people who must shoulder the task of "national and alliance defense' in their everyday lives, within their units. Image: SWR Yannick recently started training in a new tank. Samira is a recruit - one of a group the German army is desperately looking for. Andreas pilots a 30-year-old reconnaissance aircraft along NATO's eastern border. Image: SWR Joachim is a lecturer and is supposed to make sure that his soldiers understand what this "turning point' means for them. Three male soldiers and one female soldier are the focus of this film. Broadcasting Hours: DW English FRI 13.06.2025 – 01:15 UTC FRI 13.06.2025 – 04:15 UTC SAT 14.06.2025 – 13:15 UTC SUN 15.06.2025 – 19:15 UTC MON 16.06.2025 – 09:15 UTC MON 16.06.2025 – 16:15 UTC MON 16.06.2025 – 21:15 UTC WED 18.06.2025 – 12:15 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
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Berlin pays tribute to Christo's iconic 'Wrapped Reichstag' – DW – 06/06/2025
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