Eva Högl, the outgoing Wehrbeauftragte of the Bundestag, has expressed her belief that the upcoming military service will not solely rely on voluntary participation if a sufficient number of service providers are to be recruited. In an interview with the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Högl stated, “I do not believe that we will be able to do without a form of obligation in the new military service, even though I would like to see it without one.”
Högl further explained, “If the recruitment with voluntary participation succeeds, that would be great. However, if it does not suffice, there will need to be an obligation – similar to the Swedish model.” She acknowledged that the new military service cannot currently begin with more than 5,000 soldiers due to shortages in trainers, equipment and accommodations. “But 5,000 can only be the first step and the number must be increased” she added.
The official target remains at 203,000 active soldiers by 2031, including reserves. For years, the Bundeswehr has had approximately 180,000 soldiers and recruitment efforts have not been successful. “Winning and retaining personnel is currently the Bundeswehr’s biggest challenge” said Högl. She emphasized that she does not want to limit the obligation to the Bundeswehr but believes that all young people should contribute to society, whether by serving in the military, working in social services, protecting the environment, or preserving historical sites.