Germany’s far-right AfD says the Bundeswehr has become too soft and wants to bring back discipline and a “warrior culture” inspired by the U.S. military under Trump, slamming progressive reforms as harmful to combat readiness.
In a heated Bundestag debate on Wednesday, AfD lawmaker Hannes Gnauck criticized the current state of Germany’s military, accusing it of losing its fighting edge and embracing what he described as “ideological decay.”
Gnauck mocked gender-focused roles, eco-friendly infrastructure, and what he referred to as a “wellness culture” within the Bundeswehr. “We need fighters, not CEOs with gender advisers,” he said. “Men and women who can lead, fight, and defend our country.”
The AfD’s stance closely mirrors that of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under President Trump, who has rolled back diversity programs and pledged to restore a “warrior ethos” in the American military.
Gnauck also took aim at the Bundeswehr’s climate-conscious renovations, calling them an example of misguided priorities. “Climate protection instead of combat readiness — that’s madness,” he argued.
He criticized modern troop accommodations as too comfortable, claiming that soldiers now live like hotel guests rather than warriors. “They need weapons, vehicles, and tight-knit units — not personal rooms with Wi-Fi,” he said.
Now the largest opposition party after Germany’s February elections, the AfD has also renewed its opposition to sending arms to Ukraine. Gnauck warned against involvement in “proxy wars” and accused the government of depleting Germany’s military to serve foreign agendas.
Despite AfD resistance, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to continue military support to Ukraine, keeping Germany as the second-largest donor after the United States, even as the Trump administration signals a possible pullback.
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