Kurt Beck reflects on the impact of 9/11 in Rheinland-Pfalz

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, former Minister-President of Rheinland-Pfalz Kurt Beck reflected on how the terrorist events impacted his German state. Beck recalled being informed of the attacks while at the state parliament, describing the initial televised images of the Twin Towers as feeling like fiction before the reality set in.

Because Rheinland-Pfalz hosts thousands of Americans and significant military installations, such as Ramstein Air Base, the state faced immediate security concerns. Beck coordinated with US liaison officers to implement protective measures for military barracks, residential areas, and housing. Additionally, a planned summer festival was canceled and transformed into a gathering to express solidarity and shared grief.