Veterans’ Day
On the 25th of April 2024, the German Government finally decided to declare a national veteran day to honour
German soldiers. The announcement to make the 15th of June 2025 the first annual Veterans’ Day was a
significant milestone for German soldiers who fought many years for recognition; recognition matters when you
put your life on the line to defend ideals, rights and principles.
Soldiers could never do their work on international missions alone. The local staff of armed forces, embassies
and governmental and non-governmental aid organisations were indispensable partners in the NATO mission in
Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. They have improved the knowledge of their comrades and colleagues about
Afghanistan and significantly increased understanding between the cultures. In one of the most difficult
environments in the world, Afghan local staff showed exceptional competence, dedication and courage in
implementing the world’s largest development programme.
They have been at the forefront of their country’s efforts and have been instrumental in helping Afghanistan
make dramatic progress in areas such as infrastructure, security, education, health and human rights. They
provided not only technical expertise, but also crucial knowledge and skills in implementing programmes at the
local level. They did this at great personal risk, putting their lives and the lives of their family members on the
line every day.
No one left behind
HThis risk only increased when on 15 August 2021, the radical Islamic Taliban once again took control of
Afghanistan after twenty years. Prior to this, the international troops, including Germany (at times the secondlargest
troop contributor), had withdrawn surprisingly quickly from May 2021. For 10 days, from 16 to 26 August
2021, Bundeswehr aircraft also landed in Kabul to fly out Germans and Afghan Local staff and protect them from
the Taliban’s revenge.
However these 10 days were not enough. Thousands of other people who have been granted asylum are still
waiting to leave Afghanistan – and many other vulnerable people have not yet been granted asylum. With our
local staff, we have left behind people who have worked for the international community and who have
campaigned with us for a democratic Afghanistan and for human and women’s rights. They are now at the
mercy of the Taliban’s persecution and arbitrary behaviour.
‘No one left behind’ is a binding promise for soldiers and an expression of comradeship in situations of
existential threat, in matters of life and death. Our deployment in Afghanistan would have been unthinkable
without the local Afghan staff. In many cases, they protected the lives of our German soldiers and German
personnel. Many countries, including Germany, have not yet sufficiently fulfilled their legal obligations to accept
these local staff from Afghanistan. Resettlement is not an act of mercy, but a duty. Afghan local staff
should not have to wait for the benevolence of the German state, but be considered authorised persons with a
constitutionally guaranteed right of protection from existential threats.
Honouring our gratitude
Various countries now recognise the invaluable contributions of their former Afghan employees with deep
respect and gratitude, but not Germany.
On the 16th of May 2024 the Netherlands, for the second time, held an official ceremony to award Afghans who
have worked for the Ministry of Defence with a commemorative coin. Following moving speeches, the Dutch
Minister of Defence and Deputy Chief of Defence awarded silver coins to 165 Afghans. Previously, in 2022, the
Dutch Parliament had called on the Government to honour the Afghans who accompanied their soldiers
appropriately.
In France, Afghan interpreters have also received medals to honour their service. In New Zealand, former Afghan
interpreters have been wearing Armed Forces service medals with pride since 2014 and have found their place
in the memory of their service including participating in the annual Anzac Day Parade.
We are calling on Germany and the other states involved in Afghanistan to follow these examples and recognise
their Afghan allies. Honouring the achievements of our Afghan local staff is something they have earned
individually and it would also be a public reminder of those who have stayed behind and of the continued need
for resettlement and integration support. Official appreciation would also show that local Afghan staff had to
flee their country – because we put them in danger.
The award ceremonies with medals and commemorative coins for Afghans in some countries should also invite
us to think of all other local staff who make the defence of our countries’ interest in the world possible in the
first place, from Iraq, to Sudan, to Yemen.
The 15th of June 2025 will be a significant day for German veterans. It will also be an opportunity to
simultaneously honour the local staff who stood shoulder to shoulder with them.
Let’s not leave anyone behind on Veterans’ Day either – and let’s give the Afghan and other staff the
appreciation they deserve.
Images credit: Netherlands Ministry of Defence