Investigations within the German armed forces led to a raid on the University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg in mid‑January, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday. The raid was prompted by suspicions of illicit drug handling under the German Narcotics Act. Sources indicate that narcotics may have not only been consumed but also sold by students. The matter is currently being investigated by civilian prosecutors as well as by the military’s internal authorities.
Additional cases of suspected illegal drug activity have since come to light, leading the ministry to treat several alleged perpetrators as suspects. Early findings from the Bundeswehr prompted disciplinary “immediate measures” against those involved. The ministry made it clear that any illegal drug activity has no place in the armed forces, describing it as fundamentally at odds with the units’ identity and the values practiced within the Bundeswehr. It reiterated a “zero‑tolerance” stance on all disciplinary, administrative and criminal matters.
At the same time, the ministry is re‑examining allegations of past initiation rituals at the Hamburg university that may have been humiliating or demeaning. The ministry stated that rituals can aid integration and identity formation in the armed forces, provided they do not cross the bounds of good taste or decency and do not violate participants’ rights. Violations would be pursued not only under military law but could also constitute criminal offenses under the Arms Control Law. Wrongful conduct is always investigated and, if confirmed, punished consistently.
The ministry did not disclose further details about these new allegations. Last year reports emerged that soldiers at the Hamburg university had behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner, including an incident where a young officer allegedly lowered his trousers when an American female soldier entered the communal kitchen, and that pornographic content had been viewed on campus.
