62 German Soldiers Dismissed for Right-wing Extremism in 2023

The Bundeswehr dismissed 62 soldiers last year due to right-wing extremist tendencies, RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland reported on December 3, citing the Federal Ministry of Defense’s answer to an inquiry from the Left Party. Those dismissed included 41 enlisted personnel, 11 noncommissioned officers and 10 officers.

Extremism epidemic: Ninety-four applicants were rejected during the selection process due to “doubts about their loyalty to the constitution.” The Ministry of Defense also listed 205 reports of right-wing extremist, racist or anti-Semitic incidents occurring in the Bundeswehr in 2023.

Specific cases: Reasons for dismissal included posting racist videos on YouTube, posing on TikTok with the Russian flag, and using the Nazi salute “Heil Hitler.”

A tide of right-wing extremism is rising in Germany. To learn about where it will lead, read “Why Does Germany Have So Many Neo-Nazi Conspiracies?”