Defense minister Boris Pistorius says Germany's armed forces are experiencing major difficulties in recruiting new members. It is hampering efforts to strengthen the Bundeswehr following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Ednews reports that Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said the country's armed forces should not be marketed as a "Mission Impossible" film, but admitted he was facing his own Herculean task to recruit and retain soldiers to serve in the Bundeswehr.
"Everyone is talking about a shortage of personnel in the Bundeswehr — and no one knows this better than I," he told reporters during a visit to the Bundeswehr career center in Stuttgart on Wednesday.
"We have seven percent fewer applicants this year compared to the same period last year," Pistorius said.
However, he expected a trend reversal, saying the requests for advice about a career in the Bundeswehr rose by 16%.