Neutrality Studies [Back issue] Russophobia & Militarism: It Will Destroy Europe | Dr. Erich Vad
Oct 12, 2025
Dr. Erich Vad, a former German brigadier general and advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, dives into pressing military and political issues. He discusses the interplay of war and politics, emphasizing Germany's need for a robust military. Vad critiques the historical amnesia affecting German leaders and advocates for a national-interest mindset. He warns against escalating tensions, arguing for peace over militarism. Additionally, he highlights the importance of European agency in geopolitical discussions, especially concerning US-Russia dynamics.
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Origins Of The Book Conversation
- Erich Vad and Klaus von Dohnanyi recorded a three-and-a-half-hour conversation blending personal war memories and professional military experience.
- Their different backgrounds (von Dohnanyi's 1945 conscription, Vad's 40 years in the military) shaped the book's exploration of war and policy.
Clausewitzian View Of War And Politics
- Vad invokes Clausewitz: war cannot be separated from politics and strategy must guide military aid.
- He argues Germany and Europe never developed a political exit strategy for the war in Ukraine.
Relearning National Interests
- Vad says Germans have largely abandoned thinking in national-interest terms since 1945 and EU integration masked that loss.
- He warns Germany must relearn national-interest thinking without sliding into nationalism.
