The General Inspector of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer, has expressed significant alarm regarding the increasing number of reports pertaining to sexual misconduct within the military.
In an internal daily order directed at all soldiers, Breuer strongly mandated that no form of sexual misconduct will be tolerated in the Bundeswehr. He stated that he is observing the scope of these reports with great concern, emphasizing that the number of reported cases is currently too high. The military defines incidents under the general term “all offenses against sexual self-determination,” which encompasses everything from suggestive remarks and inappropriate advances to outright sexual violence.
According to information acquired by the Spiegel, current trends suggest that the number of reported cases could reach a new peak in 2026. For context, the ministry recorded 430 official reports in 2025, compared to 395 in 2024, and 385 in the year prior.
In his directive, Breuer urged all service members not to overlook or tolerate such incidents, declaring that “every form of sexual misconduct has no place in the armed forces.” He stressed that such abuses must not be accepted by superiors, subordinates, or peers. “This is unacceptable,” Breuer concluded, appealing to the soldiers’ attitude and sense of responsibility.
Compounding the immediate concern over the increasing report numbers, the ministry is also troubled by the findings of a comprehensive dark field study on sexual violence among military personnel. This study, which surveyed thousands of both active and former soldiers regarding their experiences, is nearing completion. The results indicate that over 15 percent of targeted women submitted their reports, detailing their often difficult experiences.
First, the results of this study led the ministry to require the presentation of an action plan to combat misconduct in the Bundeswehr, to be published simultaneously with the study’s release. The project was initially prompted by former military ombudsman Eva Högl in late 2024 and gained significant momentum this year following the public scandal regarding the living conditions at the Zweibrücken paratrooper barracks.
