German Defense Reserve Chief Criticizes SPD’s Military Service Compromise
The head of the German Defense Reserve, Patrick Sensburg, has sharply criticized the SPD’s party decision on military service and conscription. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, Sensburg stated, “This is the abandonment of the prospect of a conscription in this legislative period with the SPD.” He argued that the SPD’s compromise was neither a new military service nor a conscription, but rather a continuation of the status quo for the past 15 years.
Sensburg further emphasized that the compromise’s wording, which states that all measures to increase voluntary enlistment must be exhausted before considering conscription, would be the final nail in the coffin for Germany’s defense capabilities. He lamented that the reserve was being completely forgotten by the Social Democratic Party in this context.
The only glimmer of hope, according to Sensburg, lies in the formulation that measures for the muster, registration and military surveillance of conscripted young men are to be enabled. He expressed anticipation for the upcoming legislative proposals on this matter.