A significant increase in the German Bundeswehr’s visits to schools and universities has been observed in recent years, according to a parliamentary inquiry by the Left Party and reported by the Funke-Mediengruppe.
In 2020, the military’s representatives conducted 2,717 events nationwide, a figure that more than doubled to 6,137 in the following year. The trend of increased presence in educational institutions has continued, with the number of visits rising to 5,687 in 2022 and 5,095 in 2023. As of the first half of the current year, the Ministry of Defence has already scheduled 3,520 events.
The Left Party in the Bundestag has criticized the Bundeswehr’s presence in schools, claiming it is an attempt to make the population “war-fitting” and to promote military service among young people. “At its core, it’s simply about polishing the Bundeswehr’s image and recruiting young people for military service” said Nicole Gohlke, the Left Party’s education expert. The fact that minors are also being targeted by the Bundeswehr’s efforts is particularly concerning, she added. “In the face of war risks, more peace-building would be in order, rather than curbing the Bundeswehr’s propaganda in schools and universities and quietly advancing the militarization of society and the reintroduction of military service.