Only 17% of Germans believe their military can defend the country, survey finds
By isabelle // 2026-05-26
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  • Public trust in Germany's military is collapsing, with only 38% viewing Russia as a threat, a 14-point drop since 2025.
  • Just 17% of Germans believe the Bundeswehr can defend the country against an attack.
  • Nearly half of respondents are no longer afraid of a Russian attack at all.
  • Germans now fear cyber attacks and sabotage more than a conventional Russian invasion.
  • The public's distrust extends to the United States, with 43% doubting Washington would defend Berlin.
Just 38% of Germans now consider Russia a military threat to their country, a stunning 14-point drop since September 2025 that reveals a growing disconnect between political leaders who warn of imminent danger and a public that increasingly tunes them out. The findings come from a recent INSA poll commissioned by Bild am Sonntag that paints a worrying picture of German attitudes toward national security. Half of all respondents said they "are no longer afraid of a Russian attack at all," according to the newspaper. This marks a dramatic shift in public sentiment, especially given the relentless warnings from senior officials in recent years. Germany's top military officer, General Carsten Breuer, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung earlier this month that Russia could be ready for a direct confrontation with NATO as early as 2029. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to turn the Bundeswehr into the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Yet the German people appear unconvinced and deeply skeptical about their own military's ability to do the job.

Public doubts military readiness

Only 17% of those surveyed believe the German military is capable of defending the country in the event of an attack. That means nearly three out of four Germans (72%) have little or no faith in their armed forces. Those numbers should alarm anyone paying attention to Europe's security posture. The skepticism extends to Germany's key ally. Some 43% of respondents doubt the United States would come to Berlin's aid in a crisis. This dual distrust in the Bundeswehr's capabilities and Washington's reliability leaves Germany in a precarious position, caught between political promises and hard realities. Despite the €100 billion special fund established in 2022 and defense spending projected to exceed €500 billion by 2029, the public remains deeply worried about years of underinvestment that have left the military struggling with aging hardware, insufficient ammunition stocks, and a slow-moving procurement system. These concerns reflect chronic underinvestment that no amount of political rhetoric can quickly fix.

Cyber threats worry Germans more than Russian tanks

A separate report from Der Spiegel found that Germans are now more afraid of cyber attacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns than they are of a conventional Russian invasion. About two-thirds of respondents believe these "silent war" threats could significantly disrupt daily life. This shift in public concern is telling. While politicians in Berlin push a narrative of imminent military confrontation, ordinary Germans have become more focused on threats they see as real and present: attacks on critical infrastructure, digital warfare, and economic instability. The disconnect between elite warnings and public perception has rarely been wider. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed claims that Moscow plans to attack NATO as "nonsense," accusing European leaders of using the narrative to distract citizens from domestic problems. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently warned that Germany's military buildup could trigger a global tragedy comparable to World War II.

A nation unprepared for what comes next

The gap between Germany's political ambitions and military reality is not new. But the polling data suggests it is widening. If the public itself does not believe the Bundeswehr can defend the country, how can Germany credibly project strength abroad? The question is not merely academic. With European allies pushing Germany to take greater responsibility for continental security, and with uncertainty surrounding long-term U.S. commitments, Berlin's ability to back up its promises matters more than ever. The current trajectory of big spending announcements paired with public skepticism does not inspire confidence. The German people may be less afraid of Russia than their leaders want them to be, but they are clearly afraid of something else: a defense establishment that cannot deliver on its core mission. Until that changes, the gap between rhetoric and readiness will only grow. Sources for this article include: RT.com EuropeanConservative.com Germany.News-Pravda.com
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