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Bundestag backs voluntary military service overhaul
Germany's parliament voted on Friday to reintroduce a form of military service, requiring all 18-year-old men to complete a questionnaire about their willingness to serve from January 2026. Women will have the option to respond voluntarily. The move follows rising security concerns after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and aims to strengthen the country's defense capabilities.
Protests erupt across Germany
Students in up to 90 cities plan to strike today in opposition to the new law. Organizers argue that mandatory questionnaires and potential future conscription threaten young people's futures. In Hamburg alone, around 1,500 demonstrators are expected to participate, with school officials urging parents to keep children in class.
"We don't want to spend half a year in barracks learning obedience and how to kill. War destroys our livelihoods and offers no future," protest organizers stated on social media.
Medical exams and long-term expansion plans
Starting in July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo mandatory medical assessments to evaluate their fitness for military service. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized the need to preemptively identify capable recruits in case of conflict, avoiding delays in mobilization.
The Bundeswehr currently has 182,000 active troops, with a target to increase this number by 20,000 within a year. By the early 2030s, Germany aims to expand its forces to 260,000 soldiers, supported by 200,000 reservists, to meet NATO requirements.
Voluntary now, compulsory later if needed
While the current system remains voluntary, lawmakers left open the possibility of reintroducing compulsory service if security conditions deteriorate or volunteer numbers fall short. The questionnaires and medical records would streamline recruitment in an emergency.
Germany abolished mandatory military service in 2011 under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, scaling back its armed forces during peacetime. However, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe's strongest conventional army amid pressure from the U.S. and perceived threats from Russia.
Financial incentives and political tensions
Volunteers will receive approximately €2,600 per month, significantly higher than France's proposed €800 monthly stipend for its new voluntary training program. The Bundestag also voted on a controversial pensions reform bill on Friday, which aims to maintain current pension levels until 2031.
The bill, a cornerstone of the coalition agreement between Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats, faced resistance from younger conservative lawmakers who argue it is financially unsustainable. However, the opposition far-left Left party's decision to abstain from voting reduced the risk of a government crisis.
