The German coalition government, comprised of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), is laying the groundwork for a potential return to conscription, albeit shrouded in caveats and framed as a last resort. A proposed amendment to the new military service law, currently under parliamentary review, explicitly reserves the option of implementing a lottery-based mandatory service if voluntary recruitment fails to meet the nation’s rapidly expanding defense requirements.
The amendment, detailed in documents seen by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, introduces Paragraph 2a, granting the Bundestag the power to instate a “duty-based conscription” under specific circumstances, most notably a deterioration in the geopolitical landscape or critical personnel shortages within the armed forces. While officials insist there will be “no automatic activation” of the conscription system, the inclusion of the provision signals a significant shift in Berlin’s approach to national security.
The move comes amidst mounting pressure to bolster the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, to meet commitments made to NATO. The coalition has established legally binding targets, aiming for a total force of at least 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists. The proposed legislation seeks to achieve a core active military personnel target of between 198,000 and 205,000 by the end of the legislative period in 2029.
To incentivize voluntary recruitment, the legislation proposes making military service financially more attractive, including a minimum gross salary of €2,600. Furthermore, the government is offering significant financial incentives for obtaining a driver’s license – up to €3,500 for Class B and up to €5,000 for Class C or C1 – explicitly aimed at boosting recruitment.
The inclusion of the conscription clause, despite assurances of it being a contingency measure, has already drawn criticism. Analysts suggest the provision could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to apply pressure on potential recruits and potentially undermine public support for voluntary service. While the government frames the inclusion as pragmatic planning, the move will likely reignite debates over the role of conscription in modern Germany and the ethical implications of potentially forcing citizens into military service. The draft legislation is slated for final discussion by the Defense Committee on December 3rd and a parliamentary vote on December 5th. The Union parties, notably, have previously pushed for stronger commitments and a more explicit consideration of mandatory service.