The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) reached a new peak in personnel numbers as of July 31, 2026, reporting around 186,700 soldiers. According to the Federal Ministry of Defence, this figure represents a rise of over two percent (about 3,700 more individuals) compared to July 2025. This troop size falls within the target range established for the planned recruitment increase in 2026, which is set between 186,000 and 190,000.
The Bundeswehr is also seeing new peak levels in applications and recruitment, with double-digit growth rates compared to the previous year’s month. Furthermore, the assessment process for interested candidates has been boosted, along with subsequent staffing plans. A total of approximately 378,000 letters regarding the defense survey were distributed. By the end of July, around 2,630 individuals completed an assessment, which is a significant increase of roughly 35 percent from the previous month. Following successful assessments, 865 applicants were scheduled for positions across all career paths within the Bundeswehr. Of these, 824 placements were planned for 2026, and 41 were scheduled for 2027, representing a 33 percent rise over the prior month.
In July, the Bundeswehr recorded 47,300 applications, marking a 26 percent increase compared to the year before, as well as a rise of 6,800 more than the preceding month. Concurrently, 15,400 new hires were made, which is twelve percent higher than the corresponding period last year and 4,500 more than the previous month. In addition to these official figures, approximately 12,100 voluntary service personnel and short-term contract soldiers are currently serving in the newer military service scheme, which is about six percent higher than the previous year.
