German public opinion on defense and the Bundeswehr

Expanding military personnel and expenditure depends on public support and social legitimacy. Crisis events such as 9/11 and the 2014 annexation of Crimea have influenced public attitudes toward military investment, with support intensifying significantly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Perceptions of threat and security responded more strongly to 9/11 and the 2022 invasion than to the 2014 annexation of Crimea. In Germany, right-leaning voters show the strongest support for expanding military capabilities. At the European level, trust in NATO remains notably lower than trust in national armed forces.