Germany is moving to address its deepening military manpower crisis with a new recruitment law that mixes incentives with the possibility of a return to the draft. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told lawmakers that Berlin needs 80,000 more soldiers to reach its target of 260,000 active personnel and 200,000 reservists, compared to just 180,000 and 50,000 today. “The Bundeswehr must grow. Only then is Germany safe,” Pistorius said after a cabinet session held in a secure defense ministry bunker.

Draft on the table

The proposal would raise pay, expand training, and require all 18-year-old men to fill out a recruitment questionnaire. Women may respond voluntarily. If voluntary service falls short, the law permits compulsory conscription, though without clear triggers on when it would be enforced. Critics call this vagueness a dangerous gamble. “This law is based on the principle of hope, and we can’t afford that anymore,” said CDU foreign affairs expert Norbert Röttgen.

Coalition divisions

The plan faced last-minute disputes within Chancellor Merz’s coalition. Youth groups in the Social Democrats oppose any conscription clause, while conservatives argue only a full draft can plug the gap. Historian Sören Neitze and defense commissioner Henning Otte accused the government of postponing “uncomfortable but necessary measures.” A youth survey showed 69% of Germans aged 15–25 reject serving with a weapon, underscoring the political risks.

NATO pressure

The reforms come as Trump has demanded Europe spend more on its own defense. NATO members recently pledged to reach 5% of GDP in defense spending, and Merz has vowed Germany will lead with the continent’s biggest conventional force. Yet without soldiers to fill the ranks, analysts warn the Bundeswehr risks becoming a hollow army despite record budgets.