Taking Responsibility for Soldiers: Rheinmetall supports the 2nd National Veterans Congress 2025

– Rheinmetall is one of the main sponsors of the 2nd National Veterans‘ Congress (10–11.September 2025, Berlin)
– Numerous prominent figures from politics, the armed forces and the strategic community are expected to attend
– The Group has close ties to veterans of the German Armed Forces
– We look forward to the exchange

The 2nd National Veterans‘ Congress will take place in Berlin on 10 and 11 September. Rheinmetall will be there as one of the main sponsors with an information stand. The company is thus once again expressing its solidarity with the veterans of the German Armed Forces / Bundeswehr.

The patron of the congress is the President of the German Bundestag, Julia Klöckner. In addition to her, numerous prominent guests from politics, the armed forces and the strategic community have announced their attendance, including Thomas Röwekamp, Chairman of the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag, Lieutenant General André Bodemann, Deputy Commander of the Bundeswehr Operational Command and Commander of Territorial Tasks, and Prof. Dr. Sönke Neitzel, military historian at the University of Potsdam and himself a veteran.

Rheinmetall was one of the early promoters of German veteran culture. The entire group already employs many former soldiers who ventured into the private sector after their military service. Today, they contribute to continuously improving the operational capability of the armed forces and protecting their comrades. It is therefore no surprise that the new veteran culture also has a special significance within the company – both in terms of its image as a suitable employer after the end of military service and in terms of internal appreciation of the workforce.

‘Veterans are an important link between the armed forces and society,’ says Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. ‘We are also grateful that many former soldiers and reservists are among our ranks. They contribute their experience and expertise to our products and projects. In doing so, they continue to make an important contribution to the performance of the defence industry and to the defence capabilities of our free and democratic society.’

Take a stand

Just a few weeks ago, on 15 June 2025, Rheinmetall took part in the first ever Veterans‘ Day. Ten locations displayed a statement banner. The official flag of the organiser flew at the company’s headquarters in Düsseldorf. A few days later, Rheinmetall also held its own veterans‘ event. Around 75 participants from various company locations and guests from the Bund Deutscher EinsatzVeteranen e. V. (Association of German Veterans) met at Rheinmetall’s sponsorship partner BVB Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. In addition to a convivial get-together, the programme included a stadium tour and sporting activities at the football academy.

Back in April 2025, a number of Rheinmetall employees completed the 15K3 march. This is also part of German veteran culture. It commemorates the three Bundeswehr soldiers who fell in the God Friday battle on 2 April 2010. At the Unterlüß site alone, more than 120 participants set off together. There were also marching groups in Kassel, Silberhütte and Fronau, and many Rheinmetall employees completed the march individually.

We look forward to the exchange in Berlin!