Between 2023 and 2025, 724 cases involving soldiers accused of potential violations of sexual self-determination were submitted to the responsible state prosecutor’s offices, according to a representative from the Ministry of Defense who spoke with the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Friday edition). She explained that sexual misconduct can constitute a breach of military duties even if it falls below the threshold for criminal prosecution, leading to a court-based disciplinary proceeding.
Further details indicated that the Bundeswehr Disciplinary Prosecutor’s Office initiated a total of 452 proceedings related to sexual misconduct between 2024 and 2026. As of November 4th of this year, 163 of these cases had been formally closed, 84 of them via discontinuance. The spokesperson emphasized that when forming a judicial disciplinary measure, any proven breaches of duty existing at the time of the decision are taken into account, and sexual misconduct can be one of those breaches.
The Bundeswehr has been dealing with a growing number of reports concerning sexual misconduct for several years. Recently, only scandals at the Zweibrücken (Rhineland-Palatinate) and Weißenfels (Saxony-Anhalt) locations have been brought to the wider public.
In response to this development, the Army’s Center for Military History and Social Sciences commissioned a “dark field study” to gain a comprehensive overview of the problem. This study surveyed all soldiers regarding their personal experiences and has been completed. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) plans to present the results during the upcoming meeting of the Parliamentary Defense Committee next Wednesday, though the military will be informed of the findings before the presentation.
