Citizens Increasingly Willing to Fight for Germany

German citizens show an increased fear of military conflict and willingness to take on arms, according to a Bundeswehr Center of Military History and Social Sciences survey of 1,956 citizens published on November 25.

In view of the military threat posed by Russia, a clear majority of citizens are behind the turnaround in defense policy and are specifically calling for a Bundeswehr that is fit for war.
—Timo Graf, military sociologist, “Between Fear of War and Readiness for War”

Growing fear: Timo Graf, who analyzed the findings, noted that citizens’ “sense of security has worsened and the fear of war has increased.”

Compared to the previous year, the feeling of being directly threatened by security risks has risen again, in particular concerns about religious fundamentalism (41 percent; +12 percentage points), terrorist attacks in Germany (35 percent; +8 percentage points) and war in Europe (41 percent; +7 percentage points).
—Timo Graf

Fear of Russia: Fifty-eight percent (an increase of 3 percentage points over the previous year) feel that their personal security is threatened by military risks such as tensions between the West and Russia.

• The belief that Russia’s foreign and security policy is a threat to Germany’s security has increased from 28 percent in 2018 to 66 percent in 2024.

The Russian armed forces are planning to grow to 1.5 million soldiers, which is more soldiers than in the entire [European Union]. We should take seriously what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said in speeches and writings. If we take all the information together, an attack on nato territory is possible in the next five to eight years.
—Carsten Breuer, German chief of defense

Attitude toward the army: In the event of a military attack, the majority of men (61 percent, +4 percentage points) and women (21 percent, +3 percentage points) under age 50 expressed a personal willingness to defend Germany.

A changed Germany: Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has long warned that a changed Germany is about to emerge, and he has specifically pointed to the fear of Russia as a catalyst.

Learn more: Read “Ukraine Is Hastening a New Germany.”