Sad fate: Soldier Rohm battled PTSD and depression for a long time

Sad fate: Soldier Rohm battled PTSD and depression for a long time

On July 3, 2025, the small community of Helmbrechts in the Hof district, Bavaria, experienced a tragic incident that shed light on the fate of a former soldier. At 7:45 a.m., residents heard a dull bang from a two-family house. Angelika Rohm, the wife of 50-year-old Sergeant Major Reinwald Rohm, found her husband lifeless in his hobby room. He took his own life after suffering for years from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression. The path to this tragic decision was long and arduous, marked by a futile struggle for recognition and support from the Bundeswehr. As [Image] reports, the loss was devastating for the family and the community.

Reinwald Rohm joined the Bundeswehr in 2000 and quickly became an expert in explosive ordnance disposal. During his missions in crisis areas such as Afghanistan and Kosovo, he experienced traumatic events that had a deep impact on him. A suicide attack on Bundeswehr soldiers in Kabul in June 2003 in particular left him with visible scars. These experiences would ultimately lead to Rohm slipping into a dark period in which he isolated himself from his family and his environment. He drank more and lost weight dramatically. Despite his ordeal, his illness was not officially recognized until 2022, and the Bundeswehr offered little compensation. Rohm reacted to the decision with protest and demanded higher allowances, but continued to face rejections.

Fight for recognition and help

Reinwald Rohm's case is not the only example of the persistent problems that many veterans face. Hundreds of traumatized soldiers fight for recognition of their mental illnesses, often for years. As [Tagesschau] notes, only 10-20% of those affected by PTSD receive the help they need from the Bundeswehr. This poses major challenges for the institution, not only in terms of soldiers' rights, but also in recruiting new personnel. Many traumatized veterans feel alone and don't know where to find support.

Although the Bundeswehr has made progress in dealing with mental illnesses in recent years, criticism of the bureaucracy and the long procedures remains loud. Processes for the recognition of mental illnesses take an average of 22 months and have triggered numerous contradictions and further processes. Recent reports show that around 30% of applications for recognition due to mental illness are rejected. Such figures give the impression that the contact point for veterans is fighting a “third war” against bureaucracy.

A call for help

Reinwald Rohm is not the only one whose ordeal is an example for many. The case highlights the serious failure to support veterans who fought for their country. The loss of a loved one is always painful, but society can and must do more to provide the necessary help to those suffering the consequences of their missions. Offers of help for people with depression and suicidal thoughts are urgently pointed out.

As the events surrounding Reinwald Rohm show, it is crucial to take the problems of veterans seriously and finally take appropriate measures that offer these people and their families the support they need.