Germany getting very close to bring back conscription. (Article translated from German)
Pistorius defines criteria for conscription
Last updated: 07.07.2025 22:01
Defense Minister Pistorius has specified his plans for a new military service. According to reports, the bill also includes criteria for mandatory conscription.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has specified his plans for voluntary military service and a transition to compulsory military service. According to Der Spiegel, which quotes from a draft law, service is to become compulsory if it "absolutely requires a short-term increase in the armed forces that cannot be achieved on a voluntary basis". According to this, the cabinet and the Bundestag should decide on forced recruitment, for example if the threat situation worsens.
According to the Spiegel report, this would mean that mandatory confiscation would no longer be dependent on the declaration of a state of tension or conflict. However, the voluntary service will be so attractive that no obligation will have to be required in the next few years, Pistorius argued in an SPD parliamentary group meeting, according to parliamentary circles. Nevertheless, they want to prepare for it.
Initially, military service will continue to be based on voluntariness, according to the Spiegel report. However, more and more people are to be mustered beyond voluntary service so that capable men can be enlisted in an emergency.
Pistorius' plans therefore envisage that a questionnaire will first be sent to all young men and women. Men have to fill it out, for women this is voluntary. The interest in serving in the Bundeswehr is to be queried. Suitable candidates are then invited to the medical examination.
According to the Spiegel report, the draft law also contains mandatory elements from the outset, with the declaration of readiness that is mandatory for men and the reintroduction of mustering. Young people born in 2008 or later are to be contacted initially. The mustering is to apply up to the age of 25.
As previously announced, the draft law is to come to the cabinet at the end of August if possible, so that the new military service can start in 2026 after the parliamentary consultation.
Higher pay for conscripts
Pistorius plans to classify conscripts as contract soldiers in the future and thus pay significantly better, as the Spiegel reports. The six months of basic service can be completed as a contract soldier with a salary of more than 2,000 euros per month.
With regard to the length of basic military service, the draft only states that this is to be set uniformly. According to reports, however, it will initially be at least six months.
30,000 volunteers in the year by 2029According to Spiegel, the draft goes on to say that the military requirements require "operational, cold-start and sustainable units". Currently, the Bundeswehr is not in a position to train and accommodate more than 15,000 volunteers.
According to his presentation to the SPD parliamentary group, Pistorius wants to increase this number to more than 30,000 in 2029, so that there will then have been a total of 100,000 conscripts - and according to the current status, no obligation is necessary.
460,000 soldiers from 2030
From 2030 onwards, Pistorius wants to be able to deploy a total of 460,000 soldiers. According to parliamentary circles, Pistorius hopes that after the basic service, some will want to stay longer with the Bundeswehr. On the other hand, the number of reservists is to be increased to 200,000 initially.
To this end, an active force of 260,000 is being sought, i.e. about 80,000 more than the Bundeswehr currently has at its disposal. |
