IG Metall: grim transition from trains to tanks
Many German companies are shifting their production towards military manufacturing – creating a dilemma for unions and workers caught between securing their livelihoods and building weapons. - 2026/09 / article , 2026/09 germany
The German metalworkers’ union IG Metall is facing a challenging transition as the country shifts its production focus from trains to military equipment. At the heart of this shift is the former Alstom-owned factory in Görlitz, a town near the Polish border in Saxony where, for 176 years, iconic red double-decker regional trains were manufactured.
These trains, a symbol of short-distance rail travel throughout Germany, were replaced by parts for Leopard 2 main battle tanks and Puma infantry fighting vehicles, both of which have been supplied to Ukraine.
Tony Menzel, a mechanic who has worked at the factory for 20 years, witnessed the factory’s transformation with tears in his eyes. He described the factory as having once made "useful things to transport people" and now making "things to kill them". Menzel, a union representative during Alstom’s era, felt the transition was easier for him due to his role in negotiations and his knowledge of the impending changes.
The factory, which employed around 700 workers, now has roughly 300-400 of its workforce manufacturing military parts, a shift that has left many workers grappling with their roles in building weapons. This transition has created a dilemma for both unions and workers who are caught between securing their livelihoods and contributing to the production of military hardware.
Written by urgent.news from Le Monde diplomatique (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
