A Step Short of Full Conscription

Germany formally suspended compulsory military service (Wehrpflicht) in 2011, moving to a professional volunteer Bundeswehr. 

On December 5, 2025, the Bundestag approved a new military service framework that stops short of restoring universal conscription but reintroduces mandatory elements. 

The reform reflects growing security concerns after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Germany’s NATO force commitments, while preserving the political sensitivity surrounding the draft.

The law establishes an initially voluntary system designed to boost recruitment through incentives, including monthly pay of about €2,600 and benefits such as funding for a driving license. 

The government has set a long-term target of 260,000 active soldiers by 2035, significantly above current force levels.

“Voluntary, Until It Isn’t”

Beginning in 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a mandatory questionnaire assessing interest and suitability for service. 

Men are legally required to respond, while participation by women remains voluntary.

From 2027, mandatory medical examinations (Musterung) will be phased in for men born in 2008 or later. 

If voluntary recruitment fails to meet targets, parliament may activate a “needs-based conscription” mechanism for men only, potentially using a lottery system.

The law does not restore the pre-2011 draft structure. 

Any move toward compulsory service for women would require a constitutional amendment, a step the government has explicitly avoided. 

Officials frame the model as flexible and reversible, arguing it balances readiness with individual choice.

Youth Resistance Takes the Streets

The Bundestag vote triggered visible opposition among young Germans. 

On December 5, 2025, thousands of school students staged strikes and demonstrations in more than 90 cities, including Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and Nuremberg. 

The protests were organized under initiatives such as “Schulstreik gegen Wehrpflicht” (School Strike Against Conscription).

Placards carried messages such as “We want to live in peace, not die in war!” and “No cannon fodder,” while some parents joined with signs reading “You will not take my children.” 

Protesters accused the government of prioritizing rearmament over education funding, mental health services, and the rising cost of living.

Polls Reveal a Generational Divide

Public opinion has shifted in favor of some form of compulsory service, with 53% support in 2025 polls, up from 47% in 2024. 

However, support drops sharply among younger Germans. 

A 2025 Forsa/Stern poll showed 54% overall backing compulsory service, while opposition rose to 63% among those aged 18–29. 

Other surveys suggest around two-thirds of young people oppose a full military draft, and only about 16% say they would be willing to take up arms in a war scenario.

By contrast, voters over 60 show the strongest support, often citing discipline, social cohesion, or personal experience with past conscription. 

Some younger respondents express conditional support for a general compulsory social or civic year, but not specifically for military service.

Testing the Voluntary Phase

Online discussions and anecdotal accounts highlight fears of a future “conscription lottery,” disruption to education and careers, and perceived gender inequality in the law’s mandatory elements. 

Inquiries about conscientious objection, a constitutional right in Germany, have reportedly increased. 

While the government insists the system remains voluntary for now, the coming years will test whether incentives alone can fill the Bundeswehr’s ranks—or whether Germany’s cautious path back toward conscription will deepen generational tensions.