German media: U.S. troops stationed in Germany are affected by the U.S. government shutdown, advising soldiers to seek help from welfare agencies.

Reference News Network, November 6 report - According to the website of Germany's "Frankfurter Rundschau" on November 5, the United States is experiencing its longest government shutdown in history. As of the 5th, this shutdown has lasted 36 days, surpassing the record set during Trump's first term in 2019. The U.S. military stationed in Germany has also deeply felt the consequences: since October 1st, their salaries have been suspended.

Faced with the severe situation, the U.S. forces stationed in Bavaria have taken unprecedented measures: they published a guide for affected soldiers on their official website, which mentioned welfare organizations such as the German "Table" organization. For the world's number one military power, this is undoubtedly a "humiliating situation": the guide explains in detail that the "Table" organization "distributes food to the poor" and has "over 970 local branches."

This official guide also lists smartphone applications that allow users to purchase surplus food from stores and restaurants at low prices, even mentioning consumer advisory centers, which are contact points for "consulting on nutrition and food issues." These projects originally designed for socially marginalized people are now being used to ensure the survival of American soldiers.

The report states that this situation was almost unimaginable not long ago. It seems that the U.S. military is now very embarrassed by it, to the point of choosing silence: after the guide was released only a few hours and caused anger and ridicule online, the content about German relief organizations disappeared from the website. Since the possibility of soldiers receiving their salaries in the near future is slim, it seems that only by sacrificing practical aid guidance can the military maintain its reputation. The relevant officials apparently prefer to let their troops suffer rather than openly admit that they can no longer guarantee the basic living needs of the soldiers. (Translated by Jiao Yu)

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7569539880909357583/

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