Bundeswehr Aims to Boost Women's Presence to 20% by 2031
The German armed forces, known as the Bundeswehr, are aiming to boost the number of women in their ranks. Currently, women make up over 13 percent of the force, excluding medical jobs, but this falls short of their own targets. The Soldier Equality Act aims to increase this proportion to at least 20 percent.
Women have been eligible for all military career paths in the German armed forces since 2001. Despite this, the proportion of women remains below 10 percent when medical jobs are excluded. The Bundeswehr is missing its own targets for increasing this number.
In a move to recognize the contributions of women in the military, the armored troops in Munster are planning to rename the Hindenburg barracks to Friederike Kruger barracks. Kruger, a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars of Liberation, disguised herself as a man and received the Iron Cross for bravery. She was buried with military honors. If confirmed, this would make it one of the few Bundeswehr barracks named after a woman.
The proposed name change is a symbolic step towards acknowledging the role of women in the military. However, the German armed forces still have work to do to meet their targets for increasing the proportion of women in their ranks.
