A first-of-its-kind study of unreported cases has found that sexual misconduct in the German armed forces is far more widespread than previously known. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius presented the findings and announced an action plan, saying there is zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in the Bundeswehr. The study, by the Bundeswehr Centre of Military History and Social Sciences, surveyed 45,000 service members, of whom around 18% responded, and more than 8,100 questionnaires were evaluated. Pistorius said it was clear from the outset that the analysis would uncover uncomfortable truths, and that only between one third and one sixth of cases are reported.
The figures support the minister's alarm. Verbal harassment was by far the most common form of misconduct, and 72% of female soldiers and 31% of male soldiers said they had experienced it at least once during their military service. In the 12 months before the survey, 38% of female soldiers and 16% of male soldiers reported experiencing verbal harassment. Younger women in the lower ranks were particularly affected, as were non-heterosexual men, and the perpetrators were predominantly male. The study also found why people stay silent: the most commonly cited reason was a wish not to draw attention to themselves. Henning Otte, the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, called the figures dramatically high and said they showed a lack of trust in the Bundeswehr's structures.
Some points caution against drawing sweeping conclusions, and others suggest the response may fall short. With only around 18% of those surveyed responding, the results reflect those who chose to take part. Statistically, combat units did not differ from the rest of the armed forces, and women in units with more than 15% women were less likely to be affected, which suggests the problem is not confined to one part of the military. Critics also say the answer is inadequate: the opposition Greens' defence spokesperson Sara Nanni is calling for an external reporting office alongside the regular channels, arguing that awareness campaigns alone will not build trust.
The study was prompted by a growing number of reports of sexual misconduct received by former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Högl, most of them from female soldiers, and she called for it in 2024. The findings matter for Germany's plans to strengthen its military. The Bundeswehr urgently needs more personnel and has been actively recruiting women, who remain significantly underrepresented across nearly all branches, yet the study is unlikely to make recruitment easier. The action plan includes a counselling centre established in early November that will soon be available around the clock, enhanced training for supervisors and a rule that the way supervisors handle reported cases will become a standing criterion in their performance evaluations. Supervisors will receive enhanced awareness training, and sexual misconduct will become part of training at every level. Pistorius said anyone who fails to lead by example or tolerates misconduct will no longer hold a leadership position.
Germany's armed forces have confirmed what many suspected, that harassment is common and rarely reported. The government has promised changes in training, counselling and leadership standards. Whether service members come to trust the reporting channels will decide if the plan works.