Eva Högl, the Bundestag’s Commissioner for Defense, has revealed that the combat readiness of several Bundeswehr units stands at just 50%, urging stronger efforts to recruit personnel.
Högl explained that the German military still needs approximately 20,000 recruits to meet its target of 203,000 soldiers, and many positions remain vacant. “Moreover, many positions remain unfilled,” she said, highlighting the ongoing challenges.
She further emphasized that the actual combat readiness of many units is alarmingly low, with some at only around 50%. “This is clearly insufficient,” she warned.
“I believe that the personnel issue will be the most important topic in 2025,” Högl stated, stressing that “the staffing situation must be the highest priority for everyone responsible for policy.”
