Name: Conscription is back in Germany? What does that mean for young people?
Uploaded: 2025-11-20T14:18:10.510Z
Duration: 1 min 35 s
Description: Compulsory or voluntary military service? How will Germany recruit more people for the military?

Compulsory or voluntary military service? How will Germany recruit more people for the military?

Berlin

Germany's governing coalition has agreed to bring back military conscription to address recruitment needs, starting in January 2026. The new system will require all 18-year-old men to respond to a questionnaire from the army, while women may choose to ignore it. Initially, only those expressing interest in military service will be examined, but by summer 2027, all men turning 18 must appear for examination, though this does not guarantee being drafted.

The government aims to attract more recruits by increasing pay and offering incentives such as subsidized driver's licenses. If voluntary enlistment is insufficient, parliament may consider reinstating full compulsory service or introducing a lottery system, with options for civilian service. The German constitution only allows compulsory military service in times of war.

Conscription is back in Germany? What does that mean for young people?

Do you want to join the army? All men turning 18 in Germany will have to answer this question soon. The governing coalition just agreed that a comeback for military conscription is the way to get big numbers of much-needed new recruits. The new model works with a mix of mandatory conscription and incentives to join the army. From January 2026 on, every young man and woman who turns 18 years old will receive a letter from the army. The letter consists of questions asking about the height, the weight, possible chronic diseases and the willingness to serve in the army. Men will have to answer, risking fines for not doing so, while women are allowed to ignore them. For now, only those who show interest in serving in the military will be examined. But by summer 2027, every man turning 18 must show to be examined. Inspection will still not automatically lead to being drafted. The German government hopes to motivate enough recruits by increasing the payment and subsidizing driver's licenses. A similar system, gender equal though, has been practiced successfully in Sweden. So, no duty to serve and the recruits will be paid more than before? Win-win for everybody? Well, only if enough people serve voluntarily. If not, parliament could vote to re-establish full-scale compulsory military service, which was suspended in 2011. Lawmakers could decide to include a lottery system, but even those then chosen by the lottery could still avoid being drafted by doing civilian service instead. The German constitution forbids the state from forcing people to serve in the army, unless there's a war.

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