Germany's Bold Step Toward Military Conscription: Aiming for Stronger Defense

Sun Nov 30 2025 21:29:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Germany's coalition government announces a new military service plan to bolster troop numbers, mandating assessments for young men as the nation targets a significantly stronger armed forces by 2035.

In a historic shift, Germany's coalition government has approved a new military service plan, set to impact all 18-year-old men starting next year. This plan aims to increase the Bundeswehr from around 182,000 to 260,000 troops by 2035 in response to rising security concerns. The policy includes mandatory questionnaires and medical screenings for males, with potential for compulsory enlistment should recruitment goals falter. The move has sparked debates among young Germans, with a significant portion expressing opposition to mandatory service.

Germany's coalition government has agreed a new military service plan to boost troop numbers following months of wrangling between political forces.

The new military service plan will mandate all 18-year-old men to fill out a questionnaire on their suitability to serve and, from 2027, to undergo medical screening.

The decision comes as Berlin aims to create Europe's strongest conventional army.

The boss of Germany's biggest defence firm, Rheinmetall, has told the BBC he believes that target could be met in five years.

Armin Papperger said Chancellor Friedrich Merz's aim to boost the Bundeswehr was realistic and he told the BBC that clear decisions were coming from government.

Earlier this year German defence chief Gen Carsten Breuer warned that the Western NATO alliance had to prepare for a possible Russian attack within four years.

Mr. Papperger said he had no glass ball about the future but agreed Germany had to be ready in '29.

When they formed a coalition earlier this year, Merz's conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD agreed to re-introduce military service which would be voluntary to start with.

The Bundeswehr currently has around 182,000 troops. The new military service model aims to increase that number by 20,000 over the next year, rising to between 255,000 and 260,000 over the next 10 years, supplemented by approximately 200,000 reservists.

From next year, all 18-year-old men and women will be sent a questionnaire to assess their interest and willingness to join the armed forces. It will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women.

From July 2027 all men aged 18 will also have to take a medical exam to assess their fitness for duty.

If the government's targets are not met, a form of compulsory enlistment could be considered by parliament. If war were to break out, the military would be able to draw on the questionnaires and medical exams for potential recruits.

Some within Germany's political left remain deeply opposed to mandatory service.

Many young Germans are wary, with a significant majority opposing it. A recent Forsa survey for Stern magazine indicated that while just over half of respondents supported compulsory military service, opposition rose to 63% among 18- to 29-year-olds.

Jimi, a 17-year-old student from Berlin, who attended an anti-conscription protest, expressed, I don't want to go to war because I don't want to die or I don't want to be shot at. I also don't want to shoot people.

Meanwhile, Jason, a 21-year-old, felt compelled to join due to current tensions, saying, I wanted to contribute to defend peace, to defend democracy if the worst happens.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius assured the public that the new military service plan poses no cause for concern... no reason for fear, emphasizing that a well-prepared military could deter conflicts.

This shift embodies Germany's changing approach toward military preparedness, heavily influenced by recent geopolitical developments, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As the nation seeks to rebuild its military capabilities, significant investments are anticipated, benefitting both domestic defense initiatives and industries like Rheinmetall.