Bundeswehr Faces Critical Personnel Shortage as 20,000 Soldiers Needed

Wehrbeauftragte Eva Högl calls for mandatory national service and urgent reforms to address staffing and readiness challenges.

The Bundeswehr is short approximately 20,000 soldiers, falling well below its target of 203,000 personnel, according to Eva Högl, the Bundestag's Wehrbeauftragte.
Operational readiness in many units is at only 50%, which Högl describes as inadequate given the current security landscape following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Högl advocates for a mandatory year of national service for young men and women, encompassing roles in the military, social services, and other sectors to strengthen societal cohesion.
She highlights persistent issues such as aging personnel, increasing bureaucracy, and outdated digital infrastructure, which hinder the Bundeswehr's effectiveness.
Högl urges political unity and increased defense budgets to improve staffing, equipment, and infrastructure, emphasizing the need for swift action in the next legislative term.