Germany Reinstates Voluntary Military Service Amid Heightened Security Concerns

Fri Dec 05 2025 15:48:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Bundestag has approved a new voluntary military service amid growing tensions in Europe. This move is aimed at bolstering Germany's armed forces following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany's parliament has voted to reintroduce voluntary military service for young adults starting in January 2026. This decision, influenced by security concerns and recent geopolitical tensions, includes mandatory questionnaires for men and voluntary participation for women. Protests are expected as many young Germans express opposition, fearing potential military conscription in the future.

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, in a move aimed at boosting national defences after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This marks a significant shift in Germany's approach to its military and follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to create Europe's strongest conventional army.

The change means that all 18-year-olds in Germany will be sent a questionnaire from January 2026 asking if they are interested and willing to join the armed forces. The form will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women.

Students at schools across Germany have said they will join strikes in as many as 90 cities on Friday to protest against the move.

Many young Germans either oppose the new law or are sceptical. We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill, the organisers of the protests wrote in a statement posted on social media.

In Hamburg alone, about 1,500 people were expected to join the protests, and school head teachers warned parents not to take their children out of school for the day.

German MPs voted by 323 votes to 272 to back the change, making their country the latest European country to launch some form of revised military service. Last month, France also announced plans for military training for young adults.

The government says military service will be voluntary for as long as possible, but from July 2027, all 18-year-old men will have to take a medical exam to assess their fitness for possible military service. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized this is crucial for operational readiness.

Germany's army, the Bundeswehr, currently has around 182,000 troops, and Pistorius aims to increase this number significantly to meet NATO force targets. While currently voluntary, a change to compulsory military service could be considered if security conditions worsen.

The last instance of compulsory military service in Germany was eliminated in 2011. However, in response to perceived threats and international pressure to bolster defense spending, significant changes in the military structure are now taking place.