German Bundeswehr faces rise in ex‑soldier hires by arms firms and calls for extra chaplains

Between mid‑December 2024 and mid‑June 2026, 332 former Bundeswehr personnel reported new jobs in the German defence industry, a marked increase compared with 411 cases over the preceding three‑year period. Most were retiring soldiers; only eight left early. Green lawmaker Sebastian Schäfer warned that “the question is whether knowledge is used to enrich companies like Rheinmetall rather than the country.”

At the same time, Evangelical Military Bishop Bernhard Felmberg said the Bundeswehr needs “42 additional military chaplains by the mid‑2030s” to support a force projected to grow from about 180,000 to 260,000 troops. Currently there are 100 chaplains serving roughly 28 % evangelical soldiers, and Felmberg highlighted the importance of their “life‑knowledge teaching” for ethical preparation in combat.