A significant increase in the Bundeswehr’s (German Armed Forces) presence in schools has been revealed in a parliamentary response to a query from the Left party. The response, reported by newspapers within the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, details a marked rise in outreach events aimed at students.
In 2020, Bundeswehr officers made 983 appearances before students in secondary level I (typically ages 10-15). This number surged to 2,356 in the following year and preliminary figures indicate 777 events already took place in the first quarter of the current year, potentially reaching 3,108 by year-end.
Outreach to students in secondary level II (typically ages 15-18) similarly saw a substantial increase, rising from 1,017 appearances in 2020 to 2,086 in the following year. The first quarter of this year saw 706 events, projecting a potential total of 2,824 appearances for the entire year.
Nicole Gohlke, the Left party’s parliamentary group deputy chair, voiced concern regarding this trend. She stated that the increased visibility of the Bundeswehr in schools does not constitute genuine information or engagement, but rather an effort to improve the armed forces’ image and attract young people, including minors, to military service.
Gohlke emphasized that the Bundeswehr operates outside of a neutral position on peace policy and that effective peace initiatives are particularly crucial in the current global climate. She advocated for redirecting funds away from recruitment campaigns and towards educational equity, arguing that young people require opportunities and perspectives, rather than exposure to what she described as military promotion within the classroom.
