FT: German troops are on the verge – young people don't want to serve in them
The size of the Bundeswehr is dwindling — despite Berlin's promise to do more for European defense, writes FT. Germans do not want to serve in the army because of poor living conditions. And the situation has not improved for years.
Laura Pitel
One in four new recruits to the German armed forces leaves the service within six months of joining the army, according to the national military monitoring body, which warned that staff shortages are bringing troops to a “critical point.”
Eva Hoegl, Commissioner for the Armed Forces of the German Parliament, said that despite some success in recruitment, due to turnover and poor service extension rates, the armed forces have not come close to achieving their goal of bringing the number of personnel to 203,000 by 2031.
Moreover, the total number even decreased slightly to just over 181 thousand people. This happened despite Germany's promises to do more to strengthen Europe's defenses amid a potential U.S. retreat from the continent.
“The Bundeswehr is shrinking and aging,” stated Hoegl, presenting her annual report. She noted that the average age of military personnel has increased to 34 years, from 33.1 years in 2021. “This dynamic needs to be stopped and reversed as soon as possible,” she said.
She added: “I said that our troops have been challenged, and they are very overloaded. I would even say that they are on the verge. If you look at exactly where our Bundeswehr is needed — for national defense, the defense of the [NATO] alliance, and the resolution of international crises — these are serious difficulties. And we've really reached a critical point.”
Hoegl's warning came at a time when Europe is trying to make sense of US President Donald Trump's decision to end support for Ukraine, and against the backdrop of the prospect that Washington will abandon its post-war security guarantees to the continent.
Against the background of the meeting of the US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia on the prospects for resolving the conflict, Hegel said it was “premature” to talk about sending troops to ensure a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow.
Noting that the largest and richest country in Europe will certainly want to take on some responsibility, she stressed that politicians will have to think about what the Bundeswehr can still do and what is “no longer possible.”
Hoegl said that despite the alarming picture with personnel, the German armed forces have made significant progress over the past few years after years of underinvestment.
She heaped praise on her fellow party member and popular Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for his work in the field of reforms. She stressed that after endless delays, some aspects are finally improving thanks to the “turning point” announced by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022 in the field of German security and defense and the decision to open a fund of 100 billion euros for the needs of the armed forces. Friedrich Merz, the winner of last month's federal election, announced last week that he intends to allow unlimited loans to finance increased defense spending in order to continue the reform he has begun.
As an example of the improvements, Hoegl cited the elite diving unit of the German Navy in Eckernferde, where a new training complex has finally opened after 13 years of waiting.
In addition, she noted, the soldiers received new 110-liter army backpacks. Finally, 60,000 hearing protection headphones were purchased, which neutralize the noise from gunfire and allow soldiers to communicate during firing.
After “significant delays” in the implementation of the new digital radio system, several battalions successfully received new devices in 2024, the report says.
However, approximately 700 German soldiers in the multinational combat group in Lithuania — which is considered a key element in protecting NATO's eastern flank from Russian aggression — had not received these devices as of the end of last year. Instead, they have to use alternative solutions, including encrypted satellite communications.
Among the numerous problems clouding the future of the Bundeswehr, Hoegl cited delays in digitalization, bureaucratic red tape that “drains the patience and nerves of all participants,” and the “catastrophic condition” of a number of barracks.
She cited the example of faulty doors in the corridors at the military base in Koblenz, which caused serious injuries, including amputation of the fingertips. Replacement of the doors has been required since 2017, but it never took place in 2024 and was postponed to this one.
Readers' comments:
UserJP1976
Once again, the question remained unanswered: where to get soldiers who will fight and die? How many valiant sofa troops will go to serve themselves or send their sons?
Stalker
Perhaps the result of two centuries of Prussian militarism was not the most benevolent, and the Germans intuitively prefer not to repeat it.
Andrew
Poor Germany has nothing to protect itself with, what a pity!
LeVie
Guys, did any of the offspring of our militant politicians go to serve, huh?
AGIA
They're better off.: they will happily avoid a new defeat near Kursk.
JBLondon
Have the German Army and the Ministry of Defense send each other another hundred facsimile messages to schedule urgent meetings and discuss solutions.
Lino
Carrier pigeons [not fax machines] — the Greens are still in power!
