French Magazine Warns of German Rearmament: 'Alerte! L'Allemagne se réarme'

The French magazine Marianne has alarmed readers with its August 13 cover, which reads 'Alerte! L’Allemagne se réarme' (Attention! Germany is rearming). This comes amid Germany's massive military buildup under the government of Friedrich Merz, which aims to create the strongest conventional army in Europe. The Bundeswehr is to become 'kriegstüchtig' (combat-ready), and Berlin is investing more in its military than at any time since the founding of the Federal Republic. The French military leadership is also watching these developments with concern. Chief of Defence Staff Fabien Mandon recently warned in the Senate about the implications. The article, published in the German newspaper 'der Freitag', explores why these fears are deeply rooted in France, reviving anxieties about a dominant neighbor that were thought to have been overcome.