Voluntary military service is out among young Germans

That the German Bundeswehr has gone far since Russia’s attack on Ukraine today viewed more positively will be than before 2022, as shown in countless surveys. However, support differs depending on the age group: in a Statista survey from last year, 66 percent of those spoke in favor over 60 year olds for compulsory military service; The proportion of those in the group was almost the same 18 to 29 year olds were against it.

The reluctance of many boys, who see the reintroduction as unfair to their generation, is also reflected in the responses to the military service questionnaire that the government sent out for the first time on January 1st. Von 298.200 Almost 18-year-olds (more than half of them male) only came forward 530 people Voluntary military service – that’s 0.18 percent of those contacted.

30,000 new soldiers per year

It is obvious that this number is not enough to achieve the personnel goals that Berlin has set itself: the number of active soldiers is to be increased from the current 184,000 to 260,000 – and this at a time of large, age-related departures. At the same time, the number of reservists is expected to grow from 100,000 to 200,000.

The aim is to recruit 30,000 new soldiers every year by 2029. Most recently there were between 20,000 and 25,000 new jobs annually, so the goal is around 5,000 more per year. The 530 is still a long way from that.

The Ministry of Defense emphasizes: Based on the feedback, there have been 1,500 musters and around 600 further appointments are planned. And: Many young men expressed interest in the questionnaire, but would only be available in a year or two due to compulsory schooling or training.

In addition to voluntary military service, traditional recruitment is also being used: according to Pistorius, around 10,000 interested people other age groups reported for military service, eight percent more than by June 2025. This is also likely to play an important role Fee increase play: Anyone who does military service gets it since the reform 2.600 Euro Instead of between 1,800 and 2,200 euros gross per month and up to 3,500 euros in subsidies, for example when you get your driving license. Compared to other European countries, Germany is particularly generous in this respect.

The Bundeswehr is still working in a hurry to reopen barracks and muster centers: starting next year, muster for Men again from the 2008 vintage causing obligation. Then you also want to decide whether to stick with the current procedure that has been negotiated for years – or whether to reintroduce compulsory military service again. Pistorius also never ruled out “necessary conscription” or “partial conscription” – i.e. compulsory military service for certain age groups in order to meet the personnel target, or even – highly controversial and proposed by the Union – by “lotting”.