A German military survey found widespread misconduct among female troops, prompting Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to promise new reporting measures as the country tries to recruit more women.
The military’s Centre of Military History and Social Sciences found that at least one sexual-misconduct episode affected 40% of female soldiers in the previous 12 months. Around 19% of male soldiers said they had experienced similar misconduct, while the report found higher rates among non-heterosexual personnel. The conduct covered verbal harassment and visual abuse, including pornography shown against a person’s wishes, as well as unwanted touching. Sexual violence accounted for 2% of cases.
The Centre distributed a questionnaire to 45,000 serving personnel. Pistorius said the actual number of abuse cases may be three to five times the reported figure. He said young women in junior ranks were particularly affected. He said the military would streamline complaint channels, offer reporters more guidance and examine commanders’ handling of cases. Pistorius said commanders who tolerate misconduct or handle complaints inconsistently would no longer hold leadership positions.
The recruitment push is part of Germany’s effort to expand its armed forces. Reuters reported that years of underinvestment left Germany’s military well below its Cold War size as Berlin now seeks to make it Europe’s strongest. Reuters also reported that a government plan approved in 2025 targets roughly 200,000 trained reservists through voluntary service and an active-duty force of at least 260,000. Pistorius said the study marked the start of further work on the issue.
