German Military Dismisses 62 Soldiers for Right-Wing Extremism in 2023

The Bundeswehr also rejected 94 applicants over constitutional loyalty concerns and recorded over 200 extremist incidents last year.

The German Defense Ministry confirmed the dismissal of 62 Bundeswehr soldiers in 2023 due to right-wing extremist activities, including 41 enlisted personnel, 11 non-commissioned officers, and 10 officers.
An additional 94 applicants were rejected during the recruitment process after failing to meet standards of constitutional loyalty.
The Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) identified 33 soldiers as potential extremist threats, with six categorized as clear extremists; 10 of these individuals were dismissed, while others faced legal proceedings.
A total of 205 incidents involving extremist, racist, or antisemitic behavior were reported within the Bundeswehr, including hate speech, public declarations of allegiance to extremist groups, and inappropriate conduct during public events.
Officials emphasized ongoing efforts to address extremism within the military, though challenges remain in fully eradicating such behavior from the ranks.