A recent survey conducted by the Insa opinion research institute for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper has revealed a significant majority of Germans would opt for a civilian service over a military one, with 51 percent of respondents preferring the latter. The results show a stark contrast between the genders, with 47 percent of men favoring military service, compared to 26 percent of women. In contrast, 60 percent of women and 42 percent of men would choose a civilian service.
Despite the reluctance towards military service, a majority of respondents, 47 percent, support the re-introduction of conscription for the next generation. On the other hand, 34 percent of those polled are against the idea, while 9 percent were indifferent and 10 percent declined to comment.
The German economy has also voiced its support for the re-establishment of conscription. Oliver Zander, the head of the Gesamtmetall trade union, emphasized the need for a mandatory military service to ensure the country’s defense and security in times of crisis, stating, “The already necessary increase of around 180,000 to 260,000 soldiers and the sustainability in defense and alliance scenarios with potentially over 400,000 soldiers are definitely not feasible with a voluntary military service. We therefore need the re-establishment of conscription.”
Christoph Ahlhaus, the federal managing director of the German Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, also expressed his support for the idea, saying, “A life of freedom and prosperity must be worked for and defended every day. Therefore, the German Mittelstand fully stands behind our Bundeswehr as a service provider and supplier, with generous exemption regulations for reserve exercises or the personnel expansion of our armed forces: conscription? Why not?”
The Insa opinion research institute conducted the survey among 1,003 individuals from June 12 to 13, 2025.