The Ministry of Defence warns young men who fail to submit the questionnaire regarding the new mandatory military service that they can expect a penalty notice in the coming weeks. According to a ministry spokesman speaking to the dpa news agency on Friday, following an initial four-week deadline, a final extension period will be granted. If no response is received even after this extension, official notices, including fines, will be dispatched. The ministry stated that these administrative processes are currently being finalized.
The ministry plans to issue fines up to a maximum of 250 euros, although the legal framework suggests that higher amounts may be possible. The final amount, however, will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and lesser penalties could be applied in instances of mere negligence. While the potential for a fine is known, the spokesman did not clarify if paying a fine definitively concludes the matter for those who persistently refuse to comply. Although the speaker mentioned the possibility of “judicial measures or enforcement” he left vague about how these measures could be implemented in cases of refusal to provide information.
In terms of participation, the Bundeswehr distributed over 200,000 letters to young men and women by the end of April, inquiring about their willingness to perform military service. Out of the men contacted, approximately 86 percent returned the questionnaire within the stipulated four-week window. Following an initial reminder, roughly 73 percent of the men who received the reminder submitted their feedback within the subsequent two-week extension.
The response rate for “persons of other sexes”-according to the ministry, those who are not legally required to fill out the form-was reported at around three percent. As of Friday, the Ministry of Defence had not disclosed what the questionnaire results suggested regarding the overall level of interest in military service.