Personalzahlen: Bundeswehr erreicht Personalziel: 186.700 Soldaten

The German military reached its personnel goal of 186,700 soldiers in July, continuing on track to meet the politically set targets. As of the cutoff date of July 31, there were approximately 186,700 men and women in the armed forces, the Defense Ministry in Berlin announced. This represents a two percent increase compared to July 2025, adding up to around 3,700 more individuals.

The strength of the military personnel thus lies within the target corridor for the year 2026, which was set at 186,000 to 190,000 soldiers. However, the minimum number was already fulfilled two months into the year. The number of applications and appointments experienced a 26 percent increase compared to the previous year, with around 47,300 people wanting a position.

The ministry reported a 12 percent increase in appointments compared to the previous year and a 4,500 increase compared to the month before. Currently, approximately 12,100 voluntary service personnel and short-term conscripts contribute to the new conscription in the Bundeswehr, which is about 6 percent more than the previous year.

By the cutoff date of July 31, 2026, a total of around 378,000 job applications for the conscription questionnaire had been sent out. Within the deadline, including the extended deadline, around 96 percent of men and 4 percent of women and individuals of other genders had responded so far.