Shoulder to shoulder with France
The Federal Government pledged its solidarity with France following the terror attacks in Paris in November. People in Germany expressed their deepest sympathy and mourned with France
The terror attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015 also shocked the people of Germany. 130 people were killed in the attacks at six different locations in the French capital. The acts of violence by Islamist terrorists began during a friendly international match between the German and French national football teams. Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was also among the guests at Stade de France when three suicide attackers blew themselves up outside. Steinmeier expressed his horror on social media that evening. The next day, speaking on the fringes of the talks on Syria in Vienna, Steinmeier said: “We stand firm by the side of our French friends.”
Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel said in her statement on the attacks: “This attack on liberty targets all of us.” She added: “We believe in the right of every individual to seek happiness and to live their lives, we believe in respect and tolerance. And we know that our free life is stronger than any terrorism.” Addressing France, she said: “We, your German friends, feel very close to you. We grieve with you.” Deepest sympathy was also felt by the German population: flowers and candles were spontaneously laid in front of the French Embassy in Berlin and consulates general in several cities. The Brandenburg Gate shone in the colours of the French flag. Countless German Facebook members also coloured their profile pictures blue, white and red – as a sign of condolence.
The Federal Government also showed its solidarity with France in its willingness to support its neighbour militarily in the struggle against so-called IS – in the fields of protection, reconnaissance and logistics. At the same time, Germany is working on a political process. In a newspaper article at the beginning of December, Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier wrote: “We all know that terrorism will not be defeated by bombs – however, we also know that the IS threat will not be stopped without military measures and that otherwise in one year nothing more will be left that is accessible to a political solution.” The IS terror threat cannot be prevented by falling into a state of paralysis, “but by persistence and an intelligent overall strategy that combines security, humanitarian, civil and political measures”. ▪
