Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly’s comments about Germany’s current military spending having "some parallels with the ’30s" is outrageous, indeed despicable.
Yes, there has been a seismic change in German defence policy and the Düsseldorf armaments company Rheinmetall’s shares have jumped 17 times since the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It is a cruel reality that war makes money for wealthy and powerful people.
But to attempt to make the slightest comparison between Germany’s current expenditure on weapons with what the Hitler government did is absurd, dishonest, cheap too.
The Germany of the 1930s built weapons to attack; it committed unspeakable crimes.
The current German government is supplying arms to Ukraine in order to repel the Russian invader.
Yes, it is a highly emotive topic; these days are the anniversary of what happened at Babi Yar, where Ukrainians supported the Germans in murdering people of the Jewish faith.
It is supreme irony that German tanks are rolling again in Ukraine but this time in defence of the people.
History is never easy. For Catherine Connolly to make any reference hinting at parallels between Germany’s invasion of Ukraine in World War II and how the Federal Republic of Germany is now supporting, in a limited way, Ukraine in its fight against Russia crosses a red line.
Words matter.
Since the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 no country has done more to support countries in need.
To make the slightest comparison between the current German government and the German government of the 1930s is abominable.
If Catherine Connolly wants to point any fingers at Germany, she might well point a finger at the AfD and how it has "some parallels with the ’30s”.
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