Germany’s military readiness—or lack thereof—has come under intense scrutiny in a scathing new report released this week. The assessment paints a grim picture of the Bundeswehr, describing its infrastructure as “disastrous” and warning that deploying German troops on a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine would be premature.
On March 11, Eva Högl, the Bundestag’s Armed Forces Commissioner, presented the findings, lamenting that despite a massive €100 billion fund intended to modernize the military, improve recruitment, and fast-track weapons procurement, the Bundeswehr remains critically underprepared. The promised improvements? Barely noticeable, she said, with much of the special fund already spent.
The military’s infrastructure—barracks, facilities, and operational bases—is in shambles, according to Högl. Worse still, the Bundeswehr is shrinking and aging. By 2024, the average soldier’s age had risen to 34, up from 32.4 the year before, while active personnel dropped by 340, leaving only 181,174 troops in service. Personnel shortages, she warned, are stretching the armed forces to their limits.
Högl called for more defense funding and urged the government to reconsider conscription. She proposed a system where young men and women could either serve in the military for a year or contribute through alternative national service, such as disaster relief. Germany abolished mandatory military service for men in 2011, but with growing concerns over security, the debate over reinstating it is heating up.
Her warnings echo those of military officials across Western Europe, who argue that their own forces are ill-equipped and understaffed. The push for stronger European defense gained traction during Donald Trump’s presidency, as he pressured NATO allies to spend more on their own security. While many European nations have since reached the NATO target of allocating 2% of GDP to defense, their armies remain largely unprepared for a major conflict.
In Germany’s case, Högl dismissed talk of sending troops to Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire, calling such discussions premature. She stressed the need for politicians to acknowledge the Bundeswehr’s limitations and recognize what is simply no longer feasible.
Meanwhile, European governments are seriously considering bringing back compulsory military service in response to Russian aggression. However, a recent survey suggests that Germans themselves aren’t keen on fighting for their country—60% stated they would “probably not” or “definitely not” be willing to defend Germany in the event of an invasion.
With public reluctance to serve and a military in dire need of reform, Germany’s role in any future peacekeeping operation appears increasingly uncertain. Still, Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader and likely next chancellor, remains determined to push through a bold plan—raising €1 trillion in debt to revitalize Germany’s military and infrastructure. Whether that’s enough to reverse the Bundeswehr’s decline remains to be seen.
