The German Armed Forces dismissed Major General Hartmut Renk after he made a highly inappropriate rape-related comment during a high-level NATO meeting. The decision, made after a formal complaint and investigation, underscores the military’s commitment to enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on sexual misconduct and ensuring accountability within its ranks.

The German parliament approved €1 trillion in loans intended for a massive rearmament program. This move, which will boost the Bundeswehr's capabilities, is seen as a step toward reestablishing Germany as a major military power, with concerns over increased public debt, cuts in social spending, and potential suppression of democratic rights.

The Bundeswehr is slated to undergo a major modernization, including upgrades in cybersecurity and intelligence capabilities, as part of a €500B debt-funded defense package. The initiative, backed by a coalition of political parties, also proposes constitutional amendments to relax Germany's fiscal 'debt brake' for defense spending, signaling a significant structural shift in national security policy.

Following a parliamentary inquiry by the Linke group, the Bundeswehr dismissed 62 soldiers, including 10 officers, over concerns related to right-wing extremist activities. Additionally, 94 applicants were rejected due to doubts about their commitment to constitutional values, amid over 200 reports of extremist, racist, or antisemitic incidents within the force in 2023.

The article details longstanding issues of right-wing extremist incidents within the Bundeswehr, such as the conviction of officer Franco A. for preparing a state-threatening act and theft of weapons by KSK personnel in 2019. It further outlines the steps taken, including enhanced screening and accelerated expulsion procedures, aimed at restoring democratic integrity within the forces.

In November 2023, leading figures of the German Armed Forces presented new defence policy guidelines calling for extensive rearmament, increased military readiness, and structural shifts including a proposed conscription. The report, as covered in a March 2024 article, outlines massive budget increases and strategic support for Ukraine, reflecting a broader move towards militarism that many critics argue aligns with authoritarian and imperial ambitions.

On November 13, 2023, the German Armed Forces, along with Defence Minister Pistorius and Inspector General Carsten Breuer, released the 2023 Defence Policy Guidelines. The document outlines an aggressive rearmament, militarisation of society, and a strategy that many critics compare to authoritarian and even fascist mobilization tactics, with plans for a war-ready Bundeswehr and a war economy.

The Bundeswehr published new Defence Policy Guidelines outlining enhanced warfighting capabilities and collective defence measures in response to heightened security threats in Europe following Russia’s illegal attack on Ukraine. The guidelines emphasize the integration of military and civilian defence efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and support international alliances.

Germany amended its constitution to unlock billions in funding aimed at modernizing the Bundeswehr. The move, intended to address long-standing underinvestment in the armed forces, encapsulates a significant political decision with potential implications for state militarism and centralization of power.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a one-off allocation of EUR 100 billion from the 2022 national budget to modernize and strengthen the Bundeswehr, emphasizing the need to protect Germany's democratic freedoms and counter authoritarian threats, notably from Putin's Russia.

A senior officer in a German military battalion, Franco A., registered as a Syrian asylum seeker and suspected of extremist writings and potential terror planning has been arrested, indicating infiltration of far-right ideologies within the German Armed Forces.