A disagreement is emerging within the German government regarding the potential inclusion of mandatory service as a component of the newly envisioned conscription model.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) recently outlined the core elements of his planned legislation to leading representatives of the governing coalition’s parliamentary groups during a digital briefing. The plan envisions the recruitment of 15,000 new conscripts in 2026, scaling up to approximately 114,000 by 2029. However, Pistorius reportedly did not specify a timeframe or metric for evaluating whether to trigger a compulsory service obligation for young men.
The proposed legislation will not incorporate an automatic trigger for mandatory service. Instead, Pistorius intends to retain ministerial discretion in determining when the personnel needs of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) are unmet. In such circumstances, he would present a separate draft bill proposing the reinstatement of conscription, which would then require approval from the cabinet and a majority vote in the Bundestag (German Parliament).
Norbert Röttgen, parliamentary group vice-chairman of the CDU/CSU, has voiced criticism of these plans. He emphasized the perceived threat from Russia’s potential military capabilities within Europe in the next four to five years, suggesting it serves as the foremost consideration when evaluating the conscription model. He also underscored the importance of safeguarding the credibility of Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
Röttgen warned against Germany entering a dangerous situation unprepared, arguing Pistorius’s plans, despite containing positive individual aspects, currently fall short of that core requirement. He stressed the critical need for a concrete expansion of the standing armed forces, citing the nation’s commitment to the NATO to reach 260,000 active soldiers by 2035, compared to the current, acknowledged number of 170,000.
The precise method and timeline for achieving this expansion remain unclear, prompting calls for a defined target and deadline within the legislative draft. Such a timeline would necessitate an automatic shift from voluntary service to compulsory service should the stated target not be met.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation includes plans for the defense ministry to contact all young men and women of each year group, soliciting information regarding their capabilities and willingness to undertake military service. Recipients would be obligated to respond and attend a selection process. Pistorius aims to circumvent a return to compulsory service by making the proposed military service as appealing as possible; however, experts remain skeptical regarding the sufficiency of this approach. The cabinet is expected to approve the legislative draft at the end of August, followed by deliberation within the Bundestag.