German Military Rocked by Scandal: Elite Paratroopers Accused of Neo-Nazi Extremism and Sexual Violence

The German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have been plunged into a severe credibility crisis following the exposure of a disturbing culture of lawlessness and extremism within one of its premier fighting units. According to a damning report by the Financial Times, an internal investigation has uncovered dozens of allegations against the elite 26th Parachute Regiment (Fallschirmjägerregiment 26), ranging from rampant drug use and sexual harassment to far-right neo-Nazi activities.
Based in Zweibrücken, near the French border, the regiment consists of approximately 1,700 soldiers and serves as a rapid-reaction force for the German military. The unit has a distinguished history of high-stakes deployments, having served in combat zones such as Afghanistan and Mali, and most recently participating in evacuation operations in Sudan. However, the prestige of the “Saarland Brigade” has been shattered by revelations of a toxic internal subculture that commanders apparently failed to detect or suppress.
Civilian and military prosecutors are currently examining more than a dozen criminal cases linked to the regiment, while the Bundeswehr’s own internal disciplinary branch has investigated at least 55 suspects. The scope of the misconduct is staggering. Allegations detailed in the reports include soldiers performing the illegal Hitler salute, wearing Nazi-style uniforms during off-duty gatherings, and engaging in open antisemitic hate speech. A report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung described the existence of a “far-right, openly antisemitic clique” operating with impunity inside the barracks.
Beyond the political extremism, the investigation paints a picture of a unit rife with moral decay and interpersonal violence. Soldiers are accused of trafficking and consuming illegal drugs, while female soldiers and subordinates have been subjected to a campaign of sexual harassment, including explicit rape threats. The sheer volume of these incidents suggests a systemic failure of leadership and a collapse of discipline within the ranks.
Three-star General Harald Gante, commander of the German Field Army, publicly expressed his shock at the findings. In a statement that underscored the gravity of the situation, Gante said he was “practically speechless” not only regarding the abuses themselves but also regarding how they were handled—or mishandled—by the chain of command. His comments hint at a potential cover-up or a “code of silence” that allowed these behaviors to fester for years.
The scandal strikes at the heart of the modern German military’s identity, which is built on the concept of Innere Führung (inner leadership)—a doctrine explicitly designed to ensure soldiers act as “citizens in uniform” who uphold democratic values. The revelation that an elite combat unit has harbored neo-Nazi sympathizers raises uncomfortable questions about the effectiveness of political vetting and the resilience of far-right ideology within the armed forces. As the investigations continue, the Ministry of Defense faces intense pressure to purge the ranks and restore public trust in an institution that is currently expanding its role in European security.