Germany is considering a new approach to national defense, introducing mandatory military training for citizens as a solution to the Bundeswehr’s recruitment challenges.
The Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, is facing a significant recruitment challenge. With a decreasing number of young people applying for jobs, the government is considering introducing voluntary military service as a solution.
The Swedish Model: A Gradual Return to Conscription
The new coalition government, led by Friedrich Merz and Boris Pistorius, has announced plans to introduce a voluntary military registration system, inspired by the Swedish model. This approach involves sending a questionnaire to all 18-year-olds in a given year, with answers determining who will be invited to undergo a military physical examination. The goal is to select those who are the fittest, most suitable, and most motivated for military service.
A Return to Military Registration System
The proposed system aims to re-establish a ‘military registration system,’ which was abandoned when conscription ended in 2011. This system collects information on all citizens of military age, including data on age, health, abilities, and military experience. Without it, the state would not know who should be drafted in the event of a crisis.
Increasing Military Service Attractiveness
The coalition agreement optimistically states that ‘respect through demanding service, combined with opportunities for qualification, will continuously increase willingness to serve in the military.‘ The government hopes to make military service more attractive by offering training programs, free train travel, and free medical care. However, the current labor market offers too many alternatives, making it difficult for young people to consider a career in the military.
Pragmatic Concerns
The Bundeswehr faces practical challenges in accommodating all eligible candidates due to a lack of infrastructure, particularly accommodation and training facilities. The army currently has 15,000 available spots for voluntary military service, with only around 10,000 filled. Inspectors General warn that too many conscripts recruited at once could compromise operational readiness.
A Potential Return to Conscription
If the new government’s approach fails, it may be forced to return to universal conscription. However, this would only apply to men, and amending the Basic Law to include women would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Bundestag.
In 1956, West Germany reintroduced conscription, requiring all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 to serve in the military for at least nine months.
This move was made to strengthen the country's defenses after World War II.
By the 1990s, conscription had been reduced to six months.
In 2011, Germany abolished compulsory military service, transitioning to an all-volunteer army.
Today, German citizens can choose to serve in the military for up to two years.
The German military conscription law, also known as the Wehrpflicht in German, requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 to serve in the country's armed forces.
The law was introduced in 1956 and has undergone several changes since then.
According to the law, conscripts are required to serve for at least nine months, with some exceptions for students or individuals with certain health conditions.
Germany's military conscription law is a mandatory requirement for all eligible male citizens, with over 50,000 men serving in the military each year.
