In what German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called “deeply disturbing” episodes, an elite German paratrooper regiment is allegedly being investigated for alleged sexual assault, antisemitism, right-wing extremist involvement, violent rituals, and drug usage. German press sources stated that dozens of soldiers were being investigated for a variety of alleged misbehavior. Two female troops complained to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces in June, which sparked the uproar.
The 26th Parachute Regiment in the southwest town of Zweibruecken is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD), the military justice system, and the public prosecutor. The German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported on Monday that the investigation has already resulted in the dismissal of several soldiers and the replacement of the regiment’s commander.
According to internal records that the FAZ was able to access, harmful behavior was either ignored or dealt with internally over many years. According to the publication, this included drug use, excessive drinking, anti-Semitic remarks, and the use of right-wing slogans. Sexual assaults, disparaging comments, and a culture where complaints were seen as disloyalty were also recorded by female soldiers. Women were allegedly viewed more as disruptive individuals than as fellow soldiers in some combat groups. According to the FAZ, suspected offenders frequently stayed in the unit while those who defended themselves faced reassignment or exclusion.
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