Militarization is spreading through Germany’s health sector

Militarization is advancing across the health sector in Germany, yet the impact of these plans is not yet fully grasped by the public, warn activists from the Association of Democratic Doctors.

BREAKTHROUGH NEWS, Peoples Health Dispatch, January 31 2026

Europe’s militarization drive is gathering pace, with Germany leading the charge. People’s Health Dispatch spoke with Manuel Funk and Nadja Rakowitz from the Association of Democratic Doctors (Verein demokratischer Ärzt*innen, vdää*) about the consequences for the health system and for people’s right to health.

People’s Health Dispatch: Militarization has become a central political issue across Europe, and the German government is investing heavily in military spending. Large amounts of public money are going into defense, there is renewed discussion about conscription, and public debate increasingly frames war as inevitable. From the perspective of the Association of Democratic Doctors’ (vdää*) members, how do you interpret the current political moment?

Manuel Funk and Nadja Rakowitz: Our solidarity goes to the victims of the war, war opponents, deserters, and healthcare workers on all sides. Current developments have also affected our association, where members hold diverse views. While we have faced criticism and (very) few resignations, we continue to engage in debate and education.

At this point, in Germany, public funds are being used not only for defense, but also for shaping public attitudes. The Bundeswehr (the German armed forces) now publishes official videos showing German soldiers at night, by firelight, shouting “hurrah” when their general tells them they are working toward becoming “capable of winning.” The German army wants to win again. Beware, Europe. When they discuss a possible war, officials speak of the “Eastern Front,” and the “enemy” in public debate is clearly Russia – often personalized as Vladimir Putin. In our view, this taps into old anti-Russian sentiments and is becoming increasingly irrational.

Nowadays, it is once again socially acceptable to express pride in a grandfather who “fought against the Russians back then” – that is, in the Nazi Wehrmacht or even the SS. Statements like this no longer cause scandal, and even politicians from parties such as the Green Party sometimes make them.

As opponents of war, we are also critics of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Violations of international law, such as attacks on healthcare facilities, must be condemned. However, we believe this war cannot be won, and cannot be ended, with more weapons and more warfare. It can only come to an end through diplomacy and negotiations, which were lacking beforehand.

MF/NR: In Germany, we are not only experiencing militarization, but also an ongoing economic crisis. GDP has been shrinking for several years, and unemployment is rising. In such situations, politicians always threaten cuts to social spending. We are currently seeing this in the solidarity-based health insurance system, which covers about 90% of the population. A hospital reform is also underway, aiming to close hundreds of hospitals and centralize services in large facilities. This reform was originally justified as a cost-saving move, regardless of militarization. Since last year, however, militarization has added a new layer, leading to new austerity measures in the social sector.

This is all happening alongside the development of a war economy. Large sums are being invested not only in arms production, but also in preparing society for war. Roads and bridges are therefore being built or renovated, and the German Hospital Association has even proposed building underground hospitals. A first concrete project of this kind already exists in Cologne.

In this context too, the Bundeswehr actively lures people with financial incentives: a salary of around €2,600, along with benefits such as a driver’s license for all those who enlist. For young people facing unemployment or precarious job prospects, this can be a convincing option. And once again, it is certainly not the children of doctors or politicians who are affected, but again people from working-class backgrounds. This also applies to people whose parents or grandparents migrated to Germany: those with German citizenship who often face discrimination in the labor market and are therefore more vulnerable to this kind of recruitment.

NATO’s demand that members raise military spending to 5% of GDP will affect roughly 45% of the total federal budget in Germany. It is clear that such spending will lead to terrible social cuts, exacerbating inequality and social disadvantage.

Healthcare will worsen further if the ongoing economization of the system is not stopped, but instead accelerated. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….https://breakthroughnews.org/2026/01/31/militarization-is-spreading-through-germanys-health-sector/