“Wash your face and hands.” Germany would like to be a power. For now, they are ridiculing their own soldiers

The “epochal change” proclaimed by the German government, as General Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, tirelessly emphasizes, means for the army not only the purchase of more weapons and the recruitment of new soldiers. According to Germany's highest-ranking soldier, it is also needed a fundamental change in the way of thinking in the armed forces. A different attitude is needed to meet the many challenges of the modern battlefield “decisively, with an army capable of waging war.”

It's a long way to accountability

Rather, it is necessary to breathe new life into the key idea of ​​”leadership with a mission”, as the minister emphasized. “This is not a relic from historical drawers, but… the principle of commanding modern, adaptive armed forces of the 21st century” In such tactics, the superior only defines the goal, meaning and conditions of action, and leaves the implementation to subordinates who are to act independently. “We must apply this principle with conviction,” Pistorius appealed. “The example must set from above.”

How all these words translate into soldiers' everyday life is shown by the operating instructions of the Armed Forces Staff in cooperation with the Bundeswehr Central Office for Occupational Health and Safety, sent in mid-February 2026. It applies to shooting training at all military shooting ranges and training grounds and includes “immediate measures to reduce exposure to hazardous substances during shooting.”

“Dangerous substances are released during shooting at all shooting ranges,” begins the 4-page document obtained by the Die Welt newspaper. Right next to the gun, these are copper and carbon monoxideand after the bullets hit the target – lead and the semi-metal antimony. “High concentrations” of these harmful compounds can appear anywhere on clothing, targets, bullet traps or on the surface in front of them.

Exactly how high these concentrations are is not yet known: “research to determine soldiers' exposure to hazardous substances during shooting is still ongoing.” Nevertheless, it is now time to do so “limit exposure to a minimum to prevent possible side effects”. For this purpose, the Armed Forces Staff and the Occupational Health and Safety Inspectorate have developed a number of guidelines, which are to be immediately included in the regulations for the use of shooting ranges and disseminated among soldiers, as we read in a letter addressed to all types of armed forces and organizational structures.

Shooting only with a mat!

From now on, eating at shooting ranges is prohibited. Eating and drinking is only allowed in designated social areas. Before – and before smoking a cigarette – you should “maintain the necessary hygiene, in particular wash your face and hands”. Outerwear should be washed only “in designated service points”, absolutely not at home – “to avoid exposing third parties to contamination”.

Preliminary cleaning by “shaking off” should be carried out before leaving the shooting range, or at least outside the barracks. It is mandatory to use available shoe cleaning facilities. In order to prevent “dirt from sticking to your clothes and equipment” at all, you should carry it with you when shooting mats that can be easily cleaned after exercise (e.g. insulating mats/multifunctional pads). These should be wiped down before packing. It is also important: collecting shells with a field cap is no longer allowed, you must use “appropriate means” provided by the shooting range.

Disposable earplugs can only be used for one day, while reusable earmuffs can only be used for one day “should be cleaned according to the instructions, at the latest after each day of shooting”. However, protective vests used during training should be “packed into the attached bag” before being stored in the barracks.

Officials from the Armed Forces Staff are aware that “training at shooting ranges is a key element in building the defensive readiness of the Bundeswehr.” They also know about “the inconvenience associated with these measures and the increased organizational burden on all units and branches.” However, the most important thing is to “eliminate the threat to the soldiers entrusted to us”.

Clearly no consideration was given to the possibility that soldiers, units and squads could implement these key recommendations on their own. The operating instructions have therefore become part of the central directive “A2-220/0-0-5 Training grounds and shooting ranges”.