Germany, Bundeswehr Islam & Judaism |
How the Bundeswehr Integrates Islam and Judaism into Its Ranks
The issue of Muslim chaplaincy in the German armed forces is not new—but it is finally entering a concrete phase. This debate is all the more significant given the repeatedly stated objective of German authorities: to make the Bundeswehr the leading conventional army in Europe. Incidentally, one cannot ignore the fact that Germany remains the primary NATO country in Europe where nuclear warheads are stored, along with the aircraft capable of delivering them.
The Bundeswehr is facing a series of challenges: recruitment, retention, leadership, and the growing integration of soldiers from diverse religious backgrounds. For nearly twenty years, the same question has resurfaced time and again: should a Muslim chaplaincy be established within the German military?
2020: An Obvious but Ignored Need
As early as 2020, a lieutenant—an Afghanistan veteran—was already denouncing the lack of religious support for Muslim service members. Despite several thousand soldiers being concerned, no dedicated structure existed, while Christian and Jewish soldiers already had access to chaplains.
The obstacle was not a lack of individual goodwill, but rather the absence of a centralized religious interlocutor for Islam—a problem shared by several European countries. France has long faced the same issue and has yet to fully resolve it.
“The situation is comparable across Europe,” observers note.
That said, Germany has already taken steps to create and develop the training of German imams. France, so far, has not.
A Long-Awaited Decision: Berlin Finally Creates a Muslim Chaplaincy Service
Germany has now decided to take the plunge.
“With around 3,000 Muslim soldiers in our ranks, it is important to acknowledge this diversity and create a dedicated........