ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses (forms of) intersectionality in the German federal armed forces, the Bundeswehr. The guiding question is how PoC women or women from migrant families experience their service in the Bundeswehr and how they make sense of themselves in this core institution of the nation-state and “hyper-masculine organization”. While the situation of PoC female soldiers in other countries has been tackled already, the German case has remained hitherto untouched by academia. The chapter outlines the recent history of changes both in German citizenship law and in regulations regarding conscription and serving in the armed forces, since these changes constitute the backdrop of the topic. Intersectionality, German nationalism and racism, citizenship, and the significance of (a precarious) language build the theoretical framework of the discussion. The empirical part of the analysis is based on original qualitative interviews as well as on further published material such as videos, interviews and semiautobiographical books. The research process and the experiences of the researchers during this process also form part of this chapter because they help to demonstrate the specificity of the issues.
