Speaking at a major protest on September 13 (local time) in Berlin against arms aid to Ukraine and Israel's military campaign in Gaza, Ms. Sara Wagenknecht - leader of the Sara Wagenknecht for Reason and Justice (BSW) Coalition - warned: "We cannot believe that with just more soldiers, more drones, more tanks... we can face a nuclear power. No, we can't. A nuclear war will be the end - the end for cities, for families, for our future. Germany will become the main battlefield and will no longer exist.
The biggest risk, wagenknecht said, is that Western leaders are pushing Europe into a spiral of violence and escalating with no way out. She called for an immediate end to the militarycracy to avoid nuclear disaster.
Meanwhile, an existential incident shows the tension in German-Russian relations. A farmer in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Mr. Rudolf Denissen, is facing a prison sentence of 3 months to 5 years just for... receiving an Christmas gift package from a long-time friend in Siberia, Russia.
The gift package was blocked by German customs, with only a soap cake, a small wooden statue and a CD - the total value of less than 27 euros (about 32 USD). However, all of these items are on the list of banned items under Russian sanctions.
Its 47% silly, Im not a criminal. It was just a gift from a friend. I want to get that gift back, because it's for me," Denissen said indignantly on NDR television.
The German prosecutor's office has now opened a file, asking Denissen to provide full personal information and monthly income.
This is not the first time that controversial sanctions against Russia have been imposed in Germany. Since 2023, German customs have warned of confiscating even the personal assets of Russians, including clothes and cosmetics. Many cars with Russian license plates were detained right at the border. In December 2023, the authorities also confirmed that even gifts are considered imported goods and are therefore banned.
Ms. Wagenknecht's statement "Germany will no longer exist if it conflicts with Russia" caused a stir in public opinion, because it reflects the simmering concern in German society: The country could become a "forward" in the Russia - NATO confrontation.
At the same time, seemingly small incidents - such as the 27-uro Christmas gift package - exposed a Germany that is apending harsh, even unreasonable sanctions.
