Critical British press coverage of German veteran reunions even drew condemnation from Bonn. On July 30, 1951 the conservative Daily Telegraph reported that at a recent reunion in Düsseldorf by former paratroopers, headed by General Ramcke, the general had demanded the “immediate cessation and removal of slanders and discrimination against those who risked their lives for their country,” as well as the release of “so-called German war criminals.”

More controversially, according to the Telegraph, Ramcke added, “Whether we want to or not, we shall not be able to avoid taking up arms for the defence of our living space (Lebensraum) against enemy hordes.”³⁴ The West German newspaper Mittag condemned British reporting on this speech, describing the reunions as “harmless and understandable demonstrations.” The Telegraph unapologetically suggested, “So far as can be ascertained here, the General’s reference to ‘Lebensraum’ was suppressed by the entire German Press.”³⁵

(Source.)