Two thirds of 9,000+ respondents in six EU countries back German rearmament. But support is uneven, trust is not guaranteed, and the rise of extremism in Germany worries people most.
Brussels, 27 October 2026 – As Germany embarks on its most significant military transformation in decades, a new Böll EU Brief by Roderick Kefferpütz examines public opinion towards German rearmament in Czechia, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Poland. The findings reveal broad but uneven support for Germany’s military build-up, alongside clear expectations that its growing military power is anchored in European and transatlantic structures, with strong democratic oversight and transparency. Ultimately, Germany’s rearmament will be assessed not only by the military capabilities it develops, but also by the confidence and trust it inspires among its European partners.
Key findings:
- There is broad but uneven support for German rearmament. 67% of respondents support German rearmament. Support is strongest in Lithuania (87%) and France (79%), but considerably weaker in Italy (52%) and Greece (48%). Yet support does not equate to trust or confidence that Germany would come to an ally’s defence. In Greece, for example, only 23% believe Germany would provide military assistance if their country were attacked.
- Germany’s political future is cause for concern. The rise of extremist political forces in Germany emerges as respondents’ single most important concern (25%), ahead of historical memory (17%). Concerns about Germany’s future political direction and potential dominance in Europe also feature prominently.
- Respondents want German military power firmly embedded in European and transatlantic structures. Institutional anchoring within the EU or NATO is the most frequently prioritised reassurance mechanism (42% combined). Meanwhile, 44% favour shared EU leadership without any single country taking the lead in European defence. Joint defence projects, democratic oversight and transparency are also important sources of reassurance.
Roderick Kefferpütz, Director, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU | Global Dialogue, and author of the Brief:
"The broad support for German rearmament is conditional, not a blank cheque. Our findings show that Europeans are worried not only about Germany's past, but increasingly about its political future. With extremist forces on the rise, the question is not just how powerful Germany's military becomes, but who might be in charge of it in future. As Germany builds up its armed forces, it must also build trust with European neighbours. That means embedding its growing military power even more firmly in European and transatlantic structures, expanding joint defence projects, and ensuring democratic oversight. German rearmament must strengthen European security, not become a source of political anxiety."
About the survey
The survey was conducted by Verian in September and October 2026 among 9,173 respondents in six EU member states: Czechia, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Poland. The samples were weighted by gender, age, education and region.
Read the full Böll EU Brief 04/2026 | German Rearmament: Handle with Care – Public Attitudes in Six EU Member States, by Roderick Kefferpütz.
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This article first appeared here: eu.boell.org