Berlin factory turns symbol of German militarization debate

"Our aim is to get into conversations with the workers here. We stand on your side. We are all affected by the crisis, the cuts, and the threat of unemployment. But we think that war industry and defense production are not the solution. The flyer then invited the workers to come to local meetings to discuss ways to persuade the company to switch back to civilian production."

"From this summer on, most of its 350 workers will be put to work making shells for large-caliber munitions though there will be no actual explosives on site, the owner Pierburg, a subsidiary of manufacturing giant Rheinmetall, has been careful to underline."

Campaigners from the Berlin Alliance Against Weapons Production protested outside a Pierburg factory in Wedding, Berlin, as it transitions to manufacturing large-caliber munitions shells. The facility will employ 350 workers in this new capacity starting summer, marking the district's first weapons production since World War II. Activists distributed flyers encouraging workers to attend meetings and advocate for a return to civilian production, framing weapons manufacturing as an inadequate solution to economic crises and unemployment. Workers largely avoided engagement with demonstrators, either refusing flyers or keeping vehicle windows closed. The campaigners suspected management had discouraged worker interaction. Local residents expressed concern about the weapons factory's presence in their traditionally working-class neighborhood.

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