The Human Cost Of War: Examining German Casualties In Afghanistan

Germany's mission in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2002 to 2021, was its longest, most expensive, and bloodiest deployment since WWII. Over the course of the mission, 53-59 German soldiers died, with 35-39 of those deaths being hostile. This made the Afghanistan mission deadlier for German soldiers than any other deployment since World War II.

The first German death occurred in 2003 when a soldier with UN troops in Cambodia was shot. The last German soldier died in 2013.

German soldiers killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban and al-Qaeda: 35

Germany deployed its troops to Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the US by al-Qaeda in 2001. The first troops arrived in Kabul in January 2002.

Over the course of almost two decades, Germany had the second-largest contingent of troops in Afghanistan after the US, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed, many serving multiple tours.

Germany's mission in Afghanistan was its longest, most expensive, and bloodiest deployment since WWII. 59 German soldiers died in Afghanistan, 35 of them killed in combat or as a result of militant attacks. The last death was recorded in 2013.

In May 2007, an attack in Kunduz killed three German soldiers and eight civilians, making it the worst strike on German forces serving in Afghanistan as part of international operations.

In February 2011, three German soldiers were killed in an attack by an apparent member of the Afghan security forces. The incident took place shortly after German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg had finished a visit to the region. A Taliban spokesman denied that the attacker belonged to the Taliban.

In August 2008, a German soldier was killed in a roadside bombing in northern Afghanistan, with three others injured. The attack was blamed on Taliban militants and the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

German soldiers killed in Afghanistan by Afghan security forces: 3

On February 18, 2011, three German soldiers were killed in an attack by an apparent member of the Afghan security forces. The shootout occurred shortly after Germany's defence minister finished a visit to the region.

Sources in the German government stated that the attacker launched the assault on soldiers at the "Observation Point North" base, in the Puli Khumri district, while they were performing maintenance on a vehicle. One soldier, a 30-year-old sergeant, was reported to have died at the scene, with several wounded colleagues transported to base for medical attention. The gunman himself was killed following exchanges of fire.

The Germany Defence Ministry later confirmed the death of a second and third soldier who died of their wounds several hours after the attack.

The wounded troops were taken by helicopter to the main Puli Khumri base to be later moved to a military hospital in Kunduz. Three of the remaining wounded soldiers were considered to be in a serious condition.

This incident was one of many attacks on German troops in Afghanistan. German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung acknowledged a deteriorating security situation in northern Afghanistan, where German forces are leading reconstruction operations.

German soldiers killed in Afghanistan by suicide bombers: 10+

Germany was one of the main contributors of troops to coalition operations in Afghanistan, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the past two decades. The German military concluded its withdrawal from Afghanistan in June 2021, marking the end of its deadliest military mission since World War II.

As of October 2019, 59 German soldiers had died in Afghanistan, with 39 of those deaths being hostile. This death toll later rose to 62 with the addition of three policemen, making it the highest number of fatalities for the German army in deployments abroad since World War II.

In addition to these fatalities, 245 German soldiers and four police officers suffered injuries caused by hostile activity.

On May 19, 2007, three German soldiers and four civilians were killed in a suicide bombing in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz. The bomber struck as the soldiers were patrolling the city. Four civilians died in the blast, and another 14 people, including two German soldiers, were wounded.

In June 2003, four German soldiers were killed and 29 were injured when their bus was attacked by a suicide bomber on the way to the airport in Kabul.

In another incident in Kunduz, a suicide bomber killed three German soldiers and six civilians in a crowded street market. The bomber struck when the soldiers got out of their patrol vehicle to shop. Seven people were killed and at least 14 people were wounded in the blast.

In total, more than 10 German soldiers have been killed by suicide bombers in Afghanistan.

German soldiers killed in Afghanistan by IEDs: 10+

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been a leading cause of conflict-related civilian death in Afghanistan every year since 2001, excluding 2014 and 2016. The Taliban are responsible for the majority of IED attacks in Afghanistan in the last decade, with such attacks becoming widespread after 2009.

Between October 2010 and September 2020, there were 2,288 IED attacks in Afghanistan. These attacks killed 6,625 civilians and wounded 15,012 more.

Since the beginning of the conflict in 2001, 829 US military personnel have been killed in Afghanistan by IEDs. This figure constitutes 42% of all American forces killed in the country during the war. In the same time frame, 222 British troops were killed by IEDs, constituting 49% of all British military deaths in Afghanistan.

As of October 3, 2019, 59 German soldiers and 3 policemen had died in Afghanistan, raising the death toll to 62. 39 of these deaths were hostile.

On August 27, 2008, a German soldier was killed in a roadside bombing in northern Afghanistan. Three other soldiers were injured in the attack. The German Defence Minister, Franz Josef Jung, acknowledged a deteriorating security situation in the region.

On February 18, 2011, three German soldiers died after a gunman opened fire on troops in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province. The gunman was dressed in an Afghan army uniform and fired from close quarters. The German Defence Minister, Guido Westerwelle, condemned the incident as a "treacherous terrorist attack".

In total, 48 German soldiers had died in Afghanistan by 2011.

German soldiers injured in Afghanistan: 245

Germany's military mission in Afghanistan, which lasted nearly two decades, was its deadliest since World War II. The country was one of the main contributors to coalition operations in Afghanistan, with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the years, many serving multiple tours.

The German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer stated that the mission was "intense" and "challenged and shaped" the Bundeswehr. Indeed, 59 German soldiers and 3 policemen died in Afghanistan, with 39 of these deaths being hostile. In addition, 245 German soldiers and 4 police officers suffered injuries of varying degrees due to hostile activity.

The high number of fatalities and injuries caused a stir in Germany, as it was the highest number of casualties the German army had faced in deployments abroad since World War II. Furthermore, German participation in the conflict was controversial. The ISAF participation marked the first time since World War II that German ground troops faced an organized enemy.

The German Defence Minister, Franz Josef Jung, proposed the creation of a central memorial for fallen soldiers in Berlin in 2007. Moreover, the Bundeswehr introduced the Cross of Honour for Bravery to recognise acts of heroism during deployments abroad.

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