I would fight for you

Note: The event will take place on June 24 in Oldenburg and on June 25 in Bremen.

Artur Weigandt was a convinced pacifist, for whom violence was a sign of weakness. But when bombs fell, he heard and felt the desperation of the survivors. The idealist became a realist: If you are attacked, you have to fight back – with a weapon in your hand if necessary. He himself would also be prepared to do so. As an interpreter for Ukrainian soldiers on a German military training ground, he experienced what it means not only to translate in the midst of Leopard tanks, military routine and personal fates, but also to take a stand. This book tells of tank training and propaganda, of fatigue and courage – and of the question of what it means to take responsibility. Artur Weigandt has lived in the Czech capital Prague for several years.

We want to talk to Artur Weigandt about his life in Prague, German, Czech and European perspectives on a common security policy – and about his break with pacifism.

Moderation Bremen: Eduard Klein

Moderation Oldenburg: Hans-Christian Petersen

A cooperation of globale° e.V., Bremer Bündnis für deutsch-tschechische Zusammenarbeit e.V., Rosa-Luxemburg-Initiative Bremen, EuropaPunkt Bremen, Deutscher Journalistenverband Bremen, Forschungsstelle Osteuropa Bremen, Abteilung Geschichte Europas der Neuzeit mit Schwerpunkt Osteuropa an Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg und Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft Oldenburg

Note: The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation listed the German Association for East European Studies (DGO) as an “extremist organization” in July 2024. We categorically reject this classification, but consider it our duty to inform you about it.