German veterans describe lingering trauma and stigma after overseas deployments
Former soldiers Ben Weber and Daniel Lücking recount how combat drills in Lithuania and Afghanistan still affect their sleep and mental health, while the Bundeswehr struggles with stigma around psychological care.
Ben Weber, who served eight years in the Bundeswehr and reached the rank of Oberstabsgefreiter, still experiences nightmares about a vehicle collision during the 2019 "Iron Wolf" exercise in Lithuania, but he never pursued psychiatric treatment, viewing it as a sign of weakness. Daniel Lücking, a former Oberleutnant with ten years of service, recalls a perilous convoy in Afghanistan in 2008 and now endures stress-induced dreams, having eventually received a diagnosis of adjustment disorder with possible PTSD after therapy.
Both men describe a unit environment that downplays emotional struggles and can penalise those who seek help by noting it in their health records. Oberstarzt Gerd Willmund of the Bundeswehr Psychotrauma Centre urges early medical consultation, noting that untreated cases often surface later. Official statistics show 235-344 new psychological cases per year since 2015, while a 2013 university study estimates half of deployment-related disorders go unnoticed. The Bundeswehr is expanding awareness campaigns, hotlines, and training for commanders to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Why it matters
The story reveals how military culture can hinder veterans from receiving needed mental-health care, affecting their wellbeing and reintegration.
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