German army rocked by secret affairs scandal at top ranks
Scandal in the German army. The portal Business Insider revealed that the deputy inspector general of the Bundeswehr, Andreas Hoppe, was simultaneously involved in several secret affairs. As journalists note, this situation may make him susceptible to blackmail by foreign intelligence services.
60-year-old Andreas Hoppe, a family man and one of the highest-ranking soldiers in the Bundeswehr, has access to Germany's key military secrets. According to Business Insider's findings, the general was conducting several affairs concurrently, sending identical messages and photos to different women within just a few hours.
At the beginning of November 2024, a member of the Bundestag alerted the Bundeswehr's inspector general, Carsten Breuer, to the potential threat related to Hoppe's behavior. Nonetheless, as reported by Business Insider, the information provided "apparently was not taken seriously."
Security experts warn that such actions may pose a risk to state security. "Russian and Chinese intelligence services—and some others—have always worked with kompromat," said well-known expert Gerhard Conrad to the portal.
As noted, military secrets pass through his desk that, in the wrong hands, could cause damage. Using secret affairs to extract secrets is part of the standard repertoire of intelligence agents. The Bundeswehr is of interest to foreign intelligence services.
General Hoppe admitted to serious mistakes and expressed surprise at the revealed information. However, the details of this conversation were not published due to a mutual agreement between the parties.
Reaction of the German Ministry
The German Ministry of Defense, responding to inquiries, emphasized that it cannot comment on personal matters due to the protection of personal data. However, it noted that appropriate actions are taken in cases of violations. Legal consequences for Hoppe are unlikely unless his actions violated official duties.
