Germany weighs return of conscription if volunteer recruitment falls short

Germany could reconsider mandatory military service if its new voluntary recruitment system fails to meet staffing targets, according to Thomas Röwekamp, chairman of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee.

Röwekamp said it was too early to rule out a return to conscription, Caliber.Az reports per German media.

“The Bundeswehr needs 50% more soldiers and three times more recruits. Whether we can achieve this under the current voluntary system or whether we will have to return to compulsory military service is something we will need to decide next year,” he stressed.

A new law on voluntary military service came into force in Germany on January 1, 2026. Under the legislation, men aged 18 to 25 are required to complete a questionnaire assessing their motivation and suitability for service in the armed forces. However, the system has so far delivered limited results. Nearly 300,000 questionnaires were distributed, but only 530 recipients ultimately committed to military service.

According to information provided by the German Defense Ministry and cited by Die Zeit, 96% of the more than 153,000 men who received the questionnaire completed it, while only 4% of women responded. The data has led to around 1,500 medical examinations and interviews, with another 600 scheduled.

The report noted that roughly one in five young respondents expressed interest in military service. However, many are still pursuing their education and would not be available to join the military for another one to two years.

Traditional Bundeswehr recruitment channels have produced stronger results. Around 38,500 applications have been submitted this year, up 24% from the same period last year, while the number of accepted recruits has increased by 13% to approximately 11,000.

The goal of the new law is to expand the strength of the Bundeswehr from its current 184,000 personnel to between 255,000 and 270,000 by 2035. If recruitment targets are not met, Germany could introduce what Die Zeit described as “conscription based on need.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada