The probe into the unit based in the southwestern town of Zweibruecken was launched after two women soldiers filed a complaint in June, according to German media reports.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily said Monday that several dozen soldiers were being investigated for abuses including sexual assault, "right-wing extremist and antisemitic incidents", violent rituals and using hard drugs.

Defence ministry spokesman Kenneth Harms said disciplinary action had been taken against several members of the regiment and there had been "initial dismissals", without offering details.

The commander of the regiment had also been replaced this year, he said.

"To be perfectly clear, right-wing extremism and inappropriate sexual behaviour are the offences in question," he said. "Neither is acceptable in the Bundeswehr, and it is therefore imperative to investigate the incidents thoroughly.

"Anyone who has committed misconduct or even criminal offences, or who, as a superior, has looked the other way or tolerated such behaviour, will be dealt with appropriately."

Prosecutors in Zweibruecken in November said they were looking into accusations against 19 soldiers as part of the probe.

A spokesman on Monday told AFP the status of the investigations "has remained largely unchanged since then", with no new complaints filed.

Germany has seen previous incidents of extremism in the armed forces.

An elite army commando force was dissolved in 2020 after revelations that some of its members harboured neo-Nazi sympathies.

Europe's largest economy is looking to revamp its armed forces and recently agreed on a new military service model to attract more recruits.