[Sudden sports deaths in the armed forces of Germany].

All Soldiers are obliged to participate in sports educational programs of the services, with the exception of severe restrictions due to individual health problems. During sports activities from 1/1989 to 12/1995 7 soldiers died, 3 (i.e. 43%) during soccer games. Based on a troops strength of 370,000 men, we found a yearly incidence of 0.27 sports deaths/100,000 soldiers. This result correlates with the incidence of sports deaths of club athletes in the greatest European sports death study.