‘Systemic’ sexual misconduct in German armed forces, study finds

BERLIN — Most cases of sexual misconduct in Germany’s armed forces go unreported, according to a major study presented Wednesday, as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged a “systemic problem” in how the military handles complaints.

The report found that sexual misconduct was three to six times more common than official figures suggest. The findings come as Germany tries to recruit more soldiers, including more women, as part of efforts to rebuild its military.

Four in 10 female soldiers and roughly one in five male soldiers said they had experienced at least one form of sexual misconduct in the previous year.

That includes unwanted sexual comments, sexual images, unwanted touching and sexual violence. Over the same period, 2% of both women and men reported experiencing sexual violence.

More than 8,100 soldiers completed the July 13 to Aug. 27 anonymous survey, about 18% of those contacted. The researchers said they had adjusted the results to reflect the makeup of the military.

The study found that only one-sixth to one-third of sexual incidents were reported, depending on the type of misconduct, with many victims saying they didn’t want to draw attention to themselves. Others feared consequences or doubted that reporting an incident would lead to action.

Pistorius presented the findings to the defense committee in the country’s parliament alongside Germany’s top military officer, Carsten Breuer. Speaking afterward, he promised “zero tolerance” for sexual misconduct.

Pistorius called the handling of complaints a “systemic problem.” He said military structures and the traditional responses of some commanders to complaints were partly to blame.

He announced a 34-point plan to improve protection for victims and make it easier to report incidents, including a new advice service outside the usual military chain of command. The service is currently available daily but is expected to become available around the clock.

Commanders will also be assessed on how they respond to complaints, and victims will receive more information about investigations. Commanders who tolerate misconduct or fail to deal with it properly “will no longer hold a leadership position,” Pistorius said.

The study also found that women had reported less misconduct in units where they made up more than 15% of personnel.

Asked what he would tell a mother worried about her daughter joining the military, Pistorius insisted the Bundeswehr remained a “safe employer” because it was taking action.