Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Berlin Court Convicts Ex-Wachbataillon Soldiers for Severe Sexual Coercion

The court cited confessions and a €9,500 mediation payment as mitigating factors.

Overview

  • Two former soldiers were found guilty of severe sexual coercion and received suspended prison terms of one year ten months and one year eight months.
  • A third former soldier was convicted of failure to render aid and dangerous bodily harm and was fined €6,400.
  • The offenses occurred during 2021 hazing rituals at Julius-Leber-Kaserne in Berlin-Reinickendorf, including a barracks-room sexual assault and a six-man pile-on prompted by shouted codes.
  • The victim, now 24, told the court he continues to suffer sleep disturbances, nightmares, and panic attacks and remained in therapy until leaving the service in early 2025.
  • The case stemmed from a probe into a suspected right-wing "Wolfsrudel" in the unit, with some barracks searches later deemed unlawful in 2022, and the verdict is not yet final.