The Junge Union has set a deadline for the CDU to re‑introduce conscription. In a proposal submitted for the party’s federal congress-reported by “Focus”-young members are demanding that mandatory military service start in 2027 if the armed forces’ growth targets are not met.
According to the request, if the statutory surge in personnel can’t be reached through the voluntary enlistment model, the CDU will support reinstating compulsory service from 1 July 2027. Should it become clear by 1 January 2027 that the expected increase to 186 000-190 000 active soldiers has not been achieved in 2026, the proposal calls for compulsory service to begin on that date. The Junge Union will monitor these figures annually.
“Annual reviews of personnel numbers bring transparency and are urgently needed” said CDU delegate Vivian Tauschwitz to “Focus”. She added that if voluntary recruitment can’t meet the army’s needs, compulsory service is the only logical and necessary conclusion.
MP Johannes Volkmann urged “firm commitment to restoring our defence capability”. He argued that recent weeks have shown that Europeans must do more for their own security, and that vague intentions to re‑introduce conscription are no longer acceptable.