Amid rising concerns over the threat from Russia and in response to new NATO obligations, the German government is aiming to reverse the Bundeswehr’s long-standing recruitment shortfall. The Cabinet approved a plan to expand the number of active-duty soldiers from the current 183,000 to 260,000 by the early 2030s.

Berlin

Germany has announced a new bill designed to increase its military strength by introducing a voluntary service scheme. The plan targets the recruitment of 80,000 new soldiers and 150,000 reservists, aiming for a total force of 260,000 personnel. The bill proposes improved pay and conditions to attract recruits and includes a national census to assess the readiness of young Germans for service, with mandatory participation for men and voluntary participation for women. 

The legislation also outlines mandatory physical exams for 18-year-old men, regardless of their decision to serve. The proposal, which still requires parliamentary approval, comes after a substantial increase in defence spending. Historically, Germany's military expansion has been limited due to post-World War II restrictions, but recent developments reflect a shift in policy priorities.

Germany to boost military with new voluntary service bill

The bill aims to boost German firepower with 80,000 new soldiers and 150,000 new reservists through a new voluntary military service scheme. We are now really approaching this task with the declared target of having 260,000 soldiers in Germany. And we want to achieve this target. My goal is that Germany, due to its size and economic strength, is the country that must have the strongest conventional army in NATO on the European side. The bill would introduce opt-in military service for young Germans with improved pay and conditions to entice new recruits. And to prepare for war and the automatic re-implementation of conscription, the bill includes a national census of young people's readiness to serve. All young Germans would receive a questionnaire as of next January to assess their fitness, skills and willingness, compulsory for men but voluntary for women. And as of July 2027, 18-year-old men would undergo a mandatory physical exam, whether they opt for military service or not. The bill still needs to be voted in parliament, but its announcement comes just months after Germany passed a whopping 500 billion euro spending bill to fund infrastructure and defence industry investments. We not only need a well-equipped force, which we are working hard to achieve and have been doing so for two and a half years without stopping, but we also need a Bundeswehr with sufficient personnel. Only then will the terrorists as a whole be truly credible vis-a-vis Russia. After Germany invaded much of Europe and committed a major genocide during World War II, the country was demilitarised. And when the West German Bundeswehr was established in 1955, Allies capped the size of the military and imposed strict rules on weaponry. Restrictions fell away with the reunification of Germany in 1990, but until now, given recent history, rearming has remained a taboo for German people and leaders.

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Minneapolis

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New York

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Nuuk

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Starbase

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Mason

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Kilmar Abrego Garcia is back in ICE custody and is facing deportation to Uganda, the Department of Homeland Security says, after he was released from criminal custody last week.

Baltimore

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Kyiv

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Chicago

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Jerusalem

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Breakdown