Over 60% of women in the German army have been victims of sexual harassment or abuse / German Defense Minister promises zero tolerance

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has promised a policy of “zero tolerance” toward sexual harassment and abuse in the Bundeswehr, following the publication of the first comprehensive study on these phenomena in the German military.

The analysis conducted by the Center for Military History and Social Sciences in Potsdam shows that more than 60% of the women surveyed had been victims of some form of sexual harassment or abuse during their service. Nearly 40% reported suggestive comments or sexually charged remarks, 15% were photographed without their consent, and more than 8% said they had been physically assaulted. Approximately 2% reported sexual violence.

Among men, 19% reported similar experiences, while non-binary or homosexual service members were disproportionately affected. The study, to which 18% of the 45,000 military personnel and former service members contacted responded, was published at a time when Germany is seeking to expand its forces.

Pistorius described the findings as “unacceptable” and announced that the research would be repeated annually. The minister also launched the HELP support hotline, available around the clock, and promised to provide victims with better information about the progress of their complaints. Approximately one-third of respondents said they would not report incidents because they lacked confidence in their superiors.