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The German cabinet adopted a draft bill that will introduce voluntary military service. The bill can also lead to a conscription when more troops are needed.
This is part of the step to raise the German national defense, after the full invasion of Russia into Ukraine.
The compulsory military service in Germany ended in 2011 as part of the then Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Chancellor Friedrich Mertz made an increase in German military priority, given the threat from Russia and said that “we returned to the Army of Military Service.”
He summed up his thinking earlier this year, saying: “We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we do not need to defend ourselves.”
German plans also fulfill the calls of US President Donald Trump to Europe to take more responsibility for his own protection.
When its coalition government came to the post earlier this year, it weakened borrowing restrictions to ensure the increase in defense costs, and then announced plans for 3.5% of economic products to defend over the next four years.
Defense Minister Boris Pistaria wants to increase the number of soldiers who are in the service from 182,000 to 260,000 to the early 2030s to achieve new NATO forces and strengthen German protection.
The Ministry of Defense also wants to increase the number of reservists to 200,000.
In the future, all the 18-year-old Germans, both men and women, will be sent an online Anna whether they are ready for military service. This will include questions about their physical training.
Men will need to fill out the form but it will be voluntarily for women.
18 -year -old Quentin Gertner, who heads the federal conference in the country, said his generation wants to contribute to German democracy – but the votes of young people should be heard.
“We can do our participation and take responsibility for our society when we get involved in every decision-making process that affects our generation,” he said to the BBC. “The Defense Ministry has not yet addressed us … He can call me anytime.”
In its statement, the government stated that the military would be voluntary as long as possible.
However, it states that if the safety situation has deteriorated or if you came out too little volunteers, the government will be able to decide to use coercion with the approval of the German Parliament, the Bundestag.
Pistaria said Deutschlandfunk Radio that the military service would remain voluntary.
“I am very sure that we will be able to attract young men and women to the Bundeswehr with attractive pay and attractive military service,” he said.
In recent years, the Ministry of Defense has intensified advertising campaigns and career activities, trying to recruit soldiers.
In the first six months of this year, the Bundeswehr announced an increase in the number of new recruits by 28% compared to the same period last year.
Some members of the Social Democrats Party, a junior partner in the coalition, criticized the plans, saying that the Bundeswer should make more attractive employers, rather than rename the mandatory military service.
Members of the Conservatives of the Chancellor Merz warned that the perseverance of the Bundestag approval before the recruitment could delay the questions too much.
Some commentators question whether this is the right step for Germany.
Johannes Angerman, who writes for the public television company MDR, said the military service would deprive the younger generation “Time and Money”. Instead, he argued for an advanced professional army.
Meanwhile, the Rheinmetal Entwaffnen anti -war group stated in the position in social media: “We want anything to do with the ruling class wars and are not ready to die for a country that is increasingly shrinking throughout social infrastructure. We will not fight your wars!”
