Germany's cabinet has passed a draft bill which will introduce voluntary military service. The bill could also lead to conscription if more troops are needed. It's part of a move to boost German national defenses, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Compulsory military service in Germany was ended in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany's military a priority given the threat from Russia and said we are now back on the path to a military service army.
He summed up his thinking earlier this year saying: We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we don't have to defend ourselves. Germany's plans also follow calls by US President Donald Trump for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense. When his coalition government came to office earlier this year, it loosened borrowing restrictions to enable a surge in defense spending and then announced plans for 3.5% of economic output to go on defense over the next four years.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius wants to increase the number of soldiers in service from 182,000 to 260,000 by the early 2030s to meet new NATO force targets and strengthen Germany's defenses. The defence ministry also wants to increase the number of reservists to 200,000.
In future, all 18-year-old Germans, both men and women, will be sent an online questionnaire asking if they are willing to volunteer for military service. It will include questions about their physical fitness. Men will be required to complete the form, but it will be voluntary for women. Quentin Gärtner, 18, who heads the country's Federal Pupils' Conference, said his generation wanted to contribute to the defense of German democracy - but that young people's voices should be heard.
We can only do our part and take responsibility for our society when we are included in every decision-making process affecting our generation, he told the BBC. The ministry of defense has not reached out to us yet... He can call me any time. In a statement, the government said military service would be voluntary for as long as possible. However, it said that if the security situation worsened or if there are too few volunteers, the government could decide to institute conscription with the approval of the Bundestag.
Pistorius told Deutschlandfunk radio he expected military service to remain voluntary. With attractive pay and attractive military service, I am confident that we will succeed in attracting young men and women to the Bundeswehr, he said.
In recent years, the defence ministry has stepped up advertising campaigns and career events to recruit soldiers. The Bundeswehr reported a 28% increase in new recruits in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.
Some members of the Social Democrat party have criticized the plans, arguing that the Bundeswehr should focus on becoming a more attractive employer instead of reintroducing compulsory military service. Critics also question the decision to seek parliamentary approval before considering conscription, suggesting it could delay any potential reinstatement. Commentator Johannes Angermann expressed concerns that mandatory service would detract from opportunities for youth, advocating for a professional army instead. Meanwhile, the anti-war group Rheinmetal Entwaffnen voiced strong opposition, emphasizing their disapproval of military engagement.
Compulsory military service in Germany was ended in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany's military a priority given the threat from Russia and said we are now back on the path to a military service army.
He summed up his thinking earlier this year saying: We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we don't have to defend ourselves. Germany's plans also follow calls by US President Donald Trump for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense. When his coalition government came to office earlier this year, it loosened borrowing restrictions to enable a surge in defense spending and then announced plans for 3.5% of economic output to go on defense over the next four years.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius wants to increase the number of soldiers in service from 182,000 to 260,000 by the early 2030s to meet new NATO force targets and strengthen Germany's defenses. The defence ministry also wants to increase the number of reservists to 200,000.
In future, all 18-year-old Germans, both men and women, will be sent an online questionnaire asking if they are willing to volunteer for military service. It will include questions about their physical fitness. Men will be required to complete the form, but it will be voluntary for women. Quentin Gärtner, 18, who heads the country's Federal Pupils' Conference, said his generation wanted to contribute to the defense of German democracy - but that young people's voices should be heard.
We can only do our part and take responsibility for our society when we are included in every decision-making process affecting our generation, he told the BBC. The ministry of defense has not reached out to us yet... He can call me any time. In a statement, the government said military service would be voluntary for as long as possible. However, it said that if the security situation worsened or if there are too few volunteers, the government could decide to institute conscription with the approval of the Bundestag.
Pistorius told Deutschlandfunk radio he expected military service to remain voluntary. With attractive pay and attractive military service, I am confident that we will succeed in attracting young men and women to the Bundeswehr, he said.
In recent years, the defence ministry has stepped up advertising campaigns and career events to recruit soldiers. The Bundeswehr reported a 28% increase in new recruits in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.
Some members of the Social Democrat party have criticized the plans, arguing that the Bundeswehr should focus on becoming a more attractive employer instead of reintroducing compulsory military service. Critics also question the decision to seek parliamentary approval before considering conscription, suggesting it could delay any potential reinstatement. Commentator Johannes Angermann expressed concerns that mandatory service would detract from opportunities for youth, advocating for a professional army instead. Meanwhile, the anti-war group Rheinmetal Entwaffnen voiced strong opposition, emphasizing their disapproval of military engagement.
