German military conducts 2,000 school visits in first quarter of 2026

The German military conducted more than 2,000 school visits in the first three months of the year, official data showed on Tuesday.

Germany reintroduced a voluntary military service programme last year in an effort to raise troop numbers in response to Russia's war in Ukraine and new NATO targets.

Since the beginning of the year, male 18-year-olds have been required to fill out a questionnaire evaluating their readiness to serve in the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces.

As part of the recruitment drive, the Bundeswehr is also stepping up school visits, according to figures reported by the Rheinische Post newspaper, based off a response from the Defence Ministry to a parliamentary question from The Left.

The far-left party's spokeswoman on education policy, Nicole Gohlke, criticized the military presence in the country's schools.

"Despite all the assurances from the Ministry of Defence, the figures clearly show that there is no denying an intention to recruit," the lawmaker told the Rheinische Post.

"Uniformed youth officers in schools, as well as careers advisers, are strategic tools for acclimatising minors to the military," she added.

According to the report, by far the most school visits took place in the southern state of Bavaria, where the military, or Bundeswehr, appeared in 562 schools in the first quarter of 2026.

In comparison, the state saw 1,100 visits by the military over the entire year of 2025.

Nationwide, the German military was also present at 20 universities.