Parliamentary Ombudsman Calls for New Hair and Beard Regulations for Troops - Germany's military faces dress code chaos after years of inaction
Germany's armed forces commissioner, Henning Otte, has urged the Defense Ministry to update its dress code rules for Bundeswehr soldiers. The call comes after years of delays, leaving service members without clear guidelines on personal appearance. Otte highlighted that the current uncertainty has lasted since a key court ruling in 2019.
The issue gained attention after a 2019 case in which a staff sergeant challenged the ban on male soldiers wearing long hair. Germany's Federal Administrative Court ruled that mandatory hair length checks were unconstitutional (BVerwG 6 C 11.18, Leipzig, 27 June 2019). Despite this decision, the Defense Ministry has yet to issue updated regulations.
Otte criticised the ministry for failing to act over the past seven years. He argued that new rules should respect both military requirements and the individual preferences of soldiers. Meanwhile, a ministry spokesperson confirmed that revised dress code policies remain unfinished. The 2019 ruling triggered internal Bundeswehr reforms but did not influence grooming standards in other European militaries. Countries like France, the UK, and Italy have maintained stricter appearance rules without changes as of 2026.
The delay in updating regulations has left Bundeswehr personnel without official guidance on grooming and dress. Otte's push for reform aims to resolve the long-standing issue. Until new rules are finalised, soldiers will continue operating under outdated policies.
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