Darmstädter Signal is an independent organization (military watchdog group[1]) opposing weapons of mass destruction and the primary use of military means to solve conflicts.[2] It was founded in 1983 as a group of officers, soldiers and civil Army employees of the German Bundeswehr. According to its mission statement, the organization respects the German Army's role-defending the country within the existing legal framework, but strives to give critical feedback about the Army's mission and alternative non-military concepts of conflict resolution. The Darmstädter Signal sees the central task of the Bundeswehr in defence of freedom and democracy as basic principles of the country.
The organization was founded during September 1983 in Darmstadt by 20 officers and Unteroffizier. The main point of the pacifist appeal "Darmstädter Signal" was opposition to the deployment of new nuclear weapons/missiles in Central Europe as a result of the NATO Double-Track Decision. To this day, the working group demands the removal of weapons of mass destruction and of American nuclear weapons in Germany. Supporters of the DS on March 15, 1986 founded the development association of the DS. Today, 130 members belong to the working group and 200 supporters in the development association. Annually, two to three workshops and public meetings take place to define positions and to draw attention to new developments through talks and lectures.
Several former Federal Ministers, active and former members of the German Federal Parliament/Bundestag as well as several former Generals of the Bundeswehr are members of the development association. Spokesmen of the development association were Horst-Eberhard Richter, Gernot Erler and Konrad Gilges. Since autumn 2013, the retired General-Surgeon Karl Wilhelm Demmer is in this function.
On the basis of the principle of Inner Leadership (= leadership & participation & education) (Innere Führung) with its corollary of the citizen in uniform[3] Rose, Juergen. Demokratisierung der Bundeswehr als Schritt auf dem Weg zum Frieden.[4] (Staatsbuerger in Uniform) the "Signalers" use their fundamental right of free speech also in public and contribute to assure that the norms and values of the German Basic Law remain embedded in the Bundeswehr. The concept of Innere Führung was introduced during the early years of foundation of the new German armed forces after World War II and especially advocated by Lieutenant General Wolf Graf von Baudissin. It is a hallmark making the difference between Bundeswehr and Wehrmacht. Important goals of the Working Group are the removal of nuclear warheads and the democratization of armed forces. Darmstädter Signal does not reflect a general or official image of the mood and opinion in the German armed forces.
The 25th anniversary of the organization was celebrated in the House of History in Bonn with a laudatio by Egon Bahr. For 27 years, Helmuth Prieß had been the spokesman of the Signal.