The German army is likely to start conscription in mid-2027, a senior politician says
Germany could reintroduce compulsory military service by mid-2027 if voluntary conscription fails to meet ambitious targets for troops, a senior parliamentarian has warned, as the country faces a growing threat from an unpredictable Russia and the United States.The government introduced a new model of voluntary military service in November, along with mandatory registration for 18-year-old men. However, between January and May, the program yielded only 530 new recruits, despite contacting around 300,000 young people.Thomas Roykamp, head of the German parliament’s defense committee, said that if Germany could not achieve its goals through the voluntary system, “we will have to return to conscription.”
“We must make this decision by July 31 next year.”
Employment lack of fuel pressure
Germany has committed to increasing the number of its forces to at least 260,000 soldiers by 2035, up from the current number of 185,000 soldiers. A mandatory questionnaire asking 18-year-old men to provide information about their readiness to serve has already begun to reach out to potential recruits.By mid-2027, mandatory physical examinations for 18-year-old males are also expected to begin.
Roekamp, head of the German parliament’s defense committee, said he still had “serious doubts” that voluntary conscription alone could achieve the goals. He added: “My biggest concern is the growth in the number of permanent and contract soldiers, because they are the ones who fly fighter planes, command ships, operate tanks, and operate Patriot air defense systems.”
The division between generations
This debate has revealed a stark generational divide. A recent study by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that net opposition to compulsory military service was 46% among 18- to 29-year-olds, while every older age group expressed overall support.Youth activist Bella Breitner, spokeswoman for the anti-conscription school strike movement, said the government’s military expansion plans are raising fears among young Germans that the country is moving toward deeper militarization.“We don’t think this is something we care about,” Breitner said, adding that the group held three days of strike action, each attracting about 50,000 people.
Security concerns raise controversy
Germany must urgently rearm independently of the United States, partly because of Trump’s plans to reduce forces in Europe, but also because Washington is unable to reliably supply European militaries amid recurring international crises, Roekamp said.He said that Europe must develop its military capabilities based on actual needs and not industrial interests.European governments are under increasing pressure to expand their militaries and increase defense spending amid the Russian-Ukrainian war and uncertainty about the future of US security guarantees in Europe.Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine and renewed doubts about Washington’s role in European security pushed the issue back onto the political agenda.
