Bundeswehr faces misconduct gap as few as one-sixth reported

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius presented a Bundeswehr study to lawmakers on Wednesday showing 38% of female soldiers reported verbal sexual harassment in the 12 months preceding the survey.

The first study of unreported sexual misconduct evaluated more than 8,100 questionnaires after surveying 45,000 service members; by comparison, Germany’s Defense Ministry reported around 186,700 Bundeswehr troops at the end of July.

Pistorius, a Social Democrat, told the Bundestag after briefing the Defence Committee that the findings were expected to be difficult. “It was clear to us from the outset that the analysis would uncover uncomfortable truths,” he said.

“The study has shown that only between one third and one sixth of cases are reported,” Pistorius said, announcing an action plan. “There is zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in the Bundeswehr.”

The Bundeswehr Centre of Military History and Social Sciences conducted the survey, which had a response rate of about 18%. The institute said the data were scientifically representative.

The study found younger women in lower ranks were especially affected. Among men, non-heterosexual soldiers were disproportionately affected, perpetrators were predominantly male, and combat units did not differ statistically from the wider armed forces.

Verbal harassment was the most common form of misconduct. Some 72% of female soldiers and 31% of male soldiers said they had experienced it at least once during military service; in the 12 months before the survey, the shares were 38% for women and 16% for men.

Physical sexual misconduct was reported by 9% of female soldiers and 3% of male soldiers. Sexual violence was reported by 2% of both women and men, according to the study.

The study also pointed to barriers inside the reporting system. Pistorius said there appeared to be limited awareness of reporting channels and added that “the decisive issue is trust in those channels.”

Opposition Greens defence spokesperson Sara Nanni called for “an external reporting office, alongside the regular disciplinary process, with investigative powers and the authority to take disciplinary action where appropriate.” She said such a channel was needed where superiors did not meet their responsibilities.

The military plans to improve awareness of reporting routes, expand support services and strengthen supervisor training. A counselling centre established in early November is due to become available around the clock.

Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer said sexual misconduct would become part of training “at every level, from the very beginning.” Pistorius said supervisors’ handling of reported cases would also count in performance evaluations.

The study followed rising reports to former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Högl, who called in 2024 for research into unreported cases. Current commissioner Henning Otte described the figures as “dramatically high” and said the findings showed a lack of trust in Bundeswehr structures.