Discussions are underway in Germany about the possible return of conscription and finding new ways to replenish the army. This is reported by The Times.
Discussions have been ongoing in the country for several weeks about how to compensate for the shortage of military personnel. The government plans to attract about 80 thousand new recruits to reach the NATO goal of 260 thousand active military personnel by 2035.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that from January every 18-year-old German citizen will receive a questionnaire in which they will be asked to indicate whether they are ready to serve for at least six months. This measure should provide several thousand additional volunteers to the 10,000 who join the army each year.
From mid-2027, all young men will be required to undergo selection, although the service itself will remain voluntary. At the same time, experts doubt that the questionnaire will help solve the problem of personnel shortages. Various options are being actively discussed in parliament and the media – from the return of mandatory conscription to the introduction of a lottery following the example of Denmark.
Thousands of videos have appeared on German social networks under the hashtag “Wehrpflicht” (“military duty”). Some of them have gained millions of views. A Forsa poll showed that more than half of German citizens support the idea of conscription, but among young people 63% are against it. The lottery model is even more unpopular – 76% of those surveyed do not approve of this method of selection.
The new plan was expected to be presented in October, but the Social Democratic Party of Germany withdrew its support just minutes before the press conference, which is why the project failed.
Quentin Gertner, the 18-year-old head of the Federal Student Conference, criticized the government’s actions, saying that the authorities do not take into account the position of young people:
“You can’t demand something from us and not want to talk to us”.
The Bundeswehr has previously tried to improve its image by raising salaries, paying for driver’s licenses, and introducing additional support programs. After a wave of criticism from youth organizations, Defense Minister Pistorius met with Gertner personally and invited him to join consultations on the new bill, which are scheduled to take place next week.
