The parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, Henning Otte, has issued a stark call for the German Defense Ministry to expedite the implementation and release of a long-promised “dark field study” into sexism within the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). The urgency stems from the recent scandal surrounding the 26th Airborne Regiment in Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, which has brought renewed attention to pervasive issues of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Otte, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland consortium, emphasized that a military environment built on respect, dignity and safety for all personnel is not merely a legal or procedural obligation, but a fundamental question of institutional culture. He stressed the importance of fostering an environment where affected individuals can feel confident in reporting incidents without fear of isolation or stigmatization, demanding that all instances of sexual misconduct be thoroughly investigated and consistently punished.
While acknowledging that a rise in reported incidents suggests heightened awareness and improved transparency within the Bundeswehr, Otte warned that a significant “dark figure”-representing unreported cases-likely remains. This underscores the critical need for the dark field study, initially recommended over a year ago by his predecessor, Eva Högl and subsequently commissioned by the ministry. The study’s purpose, to rigorously analyze the root causes, extent and consequences of sexualized misconduct, is deemed essential for developing targeted and effective preventative measures.
The Defense Ministry previously tasked the Bundeswehr’s Center for Military History and Social Sciences with conducting this crucial scientific investigation, initially scheduled for 2024. However, according to information obtained by RND, only a preliminary project outline currently exists and data collection is not slated to begin until later this year. Critics argue that the protracted delay severely undermines efforts to address the deeply embedded issues of sexism and harassment within the military and raises questions about the ministry’s commitment to truly reforming the Bundeswehr’s culture. The lack of a comprehensive analysis hinders the development of evidence-based solutions and risks perpetuating a climate of silence and impunity.
