SPD Leader Lars Klingbeil Rejects the Idea of a Return to Military Service
In a recent podcast interview, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil expressed his opposition to the reintroduction of military service, stating that he is “against coercion.” Instead, he believes that attractive offers should be made to encourage people to serve, such as the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license through the Bundeswehr.
Klingbeil noted that he would likely not have refused military service today, citing the value of his civilian service at the Bahnhofsmission in Hannover. He also acknowledged that his arguments against the Bundeswehr at the time were no longer valid today. “It could be that I would choose the Bundeswehr today” he said. “I would probably take that path more often.”
Klingbeil’s father was a career soldier, but he did not insist that his son join the military. However, Klingbeil faced bullying in his school class, with some students calling him a “civilian deserter” after he chose not to serve in the Bundeswehr. He recalled that some classmates, who had also considered doing civilian service, told him that they would have been ostracized at home if they had not joined the military.
While Klingbeil can envision a scenario in which he would defend Germany with a weapon, he emphasized that his role as a politician is to work towards preventing such a situation from arising. He expressed his commitment to defending Germany and its people, stating that he would be willing to do so if necessary, but added that his primary goal is to ensure that such a situation never arises.