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In 2025, the German Bundeswehr
recruited 3,131 boys and girls aged 17.

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That is an increase of 42% compared with the previous year.

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One in eight recruits is not yet 18 years old.
This makes the German Bundeswehr one of the

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armies with the most underage soldiers worldwide.

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Hanna Christiansen, professor of child and
adolescent psychology at the University of Marburg,

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finds even 18 years too young as a recruitment age:

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"one should only make the decision at 25 whether to join the
Bundeswehr or not, because by then many

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developmental steps have already been completed and a
decision can be made in a completely different way."

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18 organizations and 6 associations, including the
children's aid organization terre des hommes, have

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written an open letter to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius:

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"We are very concerned about the serious
violations of children's rights and the disregard for

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the international 18-year standard in recruitment."

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160 nations had committed themselves to this standard.

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It is not yet known whether Pistorius has answered this letter.