Germany’s coalition government announced a collective decision to introduce a new military service plan on Thursday, which aims to increase military troop numbers after a period of decline. Increasing the number of soldiers actively serving in the German military and those in reserve has been a main point of attention since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022.
These preparations, approved by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have been invigorated by concerns regarding further military threats, along with the increased pressure from the US, with many European nations bracing themselves for a possible attack against NATO.
The plan enforces partial compulsory military service, mandating all 18-year-olds to fill out a questionnaire regarding their interest in serving. Responding to service would be mandatory for men, while women would be recruited on a voluntary basis.
According to the CDU/CSU and the SPD, a monthly pay of €2,600 ($3,000) will be for those who sign up for service voluntarily, and they have stated that the initiative has seen a steady incline to reach a count of around 260,000 soldiers and 200,000 reservists, from its current numbers of 180,000.
With the previous target of 203,000 soldiers not having been met through voluntary enlistment, the government has been in discussions about introducing compulsory enlistment to fill in any gaps. However, this directive will reportedly not be in effect, with the German constitution needing to be changed to make female enlistment mandatory, while the 2011 suspension of the men’s service could be reversed simply through a parliamentary majority.
The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistoris, has conveyed his approval of the agreement, hoping for its execution in 2026, although it still requires approval in the German Parliament. He also addressed those who opposed the conscription, assuring them that “the more capable our armed forces are of deterrence and defence through armament, training and personnel, the less likely we are to become involved in a conflict at all”.
