Germany considers reintroducing mandatory military service, minister says

Germany is considering the possibility of reintroducing mandatory military conscription, according to acting Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

In a recent interview with German media, Pistorius stated that while Germany is focusing on attracting enough volunteers through an appealing military service model, he did not rule out the idea of mandatory conscription if recruitment efforts fall short in the future, Caliber.Az reports.

"We assume that thanks to an attractive military service, we will gather enough volunteers. If this does not happen one day, we will have to make a decision to conscript young men," Pistorius said. He also revealed that Germany is aiming to implement a new model of military service by the end of this year, although there are still challenges in terms of insufficient barracks and training specialists for new recruits.

“In the first year, we expect to recruit about 5,000 additional soldiers,” the acting minister added. Pistorius outlined that Germany is looking to adopt a military service model similar to Sweden's, where young men from 18 years old will be required to complete questionnaires to help the Bundeswehr identify suitable candidates for service.

In Sweden, all high school graduates undergo military medical examinations, and while only a portion of them serve in the military, the army targets those it deems the best fit.

Germany abolished compulsory military service in 2011, 55 years after it was introduced. The country’s Basic Law currently states that German men “may be called” to service at the age of 18, but this has not been implemented due to the dismantling of conscription-related structures.

However, in May 2024, Pistorius decided against reinstating mandatory conscription. Instead, he proposed a voluntary service model, which includes incentives like free driving licenses, assistance with student loan repayment, and language courses for young people. During his speech at the SPD executive committee meeting on May 27, Pistorius emphasized that he does not use the term "conscription" but instead suggested sending questionnaires to 18-year-old citizens to evaluate their physical readiness for military service. He noted that this approach would require adjustments to Germany’s data protection laws.

By Tamilla Hasanova