Zeitenwende

Zeitenwende is a German noun meaning a turning point in an era, signifying a fundamental reorientation of a state’s policies, especially in security, foreign affairs, or economic strategy. The term combines Zeit (time) and Wende (turning point) and is used in political discourse and journalism to signal a decisive break with previous policies rather than marginal reform.

Although the word existed earlier in political commentary, it rose to prominence in contemporary German discourse as analysts described epochal changes in German and European politics. It is not tied to a single event and is often used descriptively or rhetorically to characterize broad shifts rather than isolated actions.

Most prominently, in February 2022 Chancellor Olaf Scholz described a Zeitenwende in German policy in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In a Bundestag speech he announced a shift toward a more assertive security posture, including a €100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr and a commitment to moving toward 2 percent of GDP on defense, along with greater arms deliveries to Ukraine and a drive to diversify energy supplies away from Russia.

Scholz's Zeitenwende sparked extensive debate: supporters framed it as a necessary rearmament and a more unified role for Germany within the EU and NATO, while critics argued that reforms could be too slow, insufficient, or economically burdensome and potentially destabilizing for political cohesion. Since then the term has been used to describe other shifts—such as changes in European security, energy independence, and China policy—though its exact content and scope remain contested.