Even 17-year-olds are allowed to join the Bundeswehr. Thousands were recruited. The left criticizes this sharply and denounces the militarization.
Well, already 18? That is probably the case with these mountain troops, but the Bundeswehr also likes to recruit minors Photo: Alexandra Beier, Reuters
BERLIN dpa | The Bundeswehr has recruited a total of 7,681 minors over the past five years. This is evident from a response from the Federal Ministry of Defence to a request from the left-wing group in the Bundestag. A peak was recorded last year with 1,996 recruits under the age of 18, compared to 1,773 the year before. According to the Bundeswehr, a total of 18,800 soldiers will be hired in 2023. 17-year-olds are not allowed to work
Volunteering in the Bundeswehr is permitted from the age of 17, with parental consent. According to the Bundeswehr, if interested parties had to wait until their 18th birthday to begin their training, they would be at a disadvantage compared to those who start their careers in the civilian sector at the same age. In principle, 17-year-old soldiers would not be sent into action.
The number of young recruits is nevertheless a cause for criticism for Nicole Gohlke, spokeswoman for left-wing education policy in the Bundestag: “The federal government now seems to have completely abandoned the protection of minors from militarization,” she told the German Press Agency in Berlin, also criticizing Performances by Bundeswehr youth officers at schools at. The school must be a politically neutral and safe place and political education must be independent and age-appropriate. “This deliberate and increasing recruitment of young people is unacceptable.”
The Ministry of Defense rejects the accusation of militarization in connection with junior officers. They also took part in the discussion with critical views on the military. “The junior officers do not recruit young people,” their annual report states. The Bundeswehr career counselors are responsible for this topic. The junior officers are intended to provide information on fundamental military and security policy issues and operations of the Bundeswehr and come to schools by invitation.
According to the response from the Ministry of Defense, 85 of the 94 non-commissioned officer positions had been filled by mid-July this year. Last year, they gave a total of 3,460 lectures at schools and universities, reaching some 90,000 pupils and students.