By M10News| Europe News| 26 July 2025
Germany is set to require all 18-year-old male⁰s to declare their willingness to serve in the armed forces under a proposed new law aimed at bolstering national defence.
The move, which introduces a compulsory military questionnaire, is seen as a step toward the potential reintroduction of conscription—scrapped in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The legislation, introduced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, would also pave the way for future mandatory military service if approved by parliament and justified by the security situation.
Officials hope the new strategy will attract more volunteers to the Bundeswehr, Germany’s federal defence force, amid growing concerns about European security.
Germany’s armed forces are currently composed of around 182,000 personnel, but the Merz administration wants to increase that figure to 260,000 by 2031.
Under the proposed law, every German male turning 18 from 2028 onward will be legally required to complete a detailed questionnaire assessing their willingness and suitability to join the military.
While the measure is compulsory for men, women will also be allowed to voluntarily fill out the survey and join the recruitment process if they choose.
The German government is also rolling out a new recruitment campaign, which will include attractive incentives aimed at appealing to the younger population.
According to reporting from German outlet t-online, incentives under consideration include subsidised driving licences, job training, and language courses for those whose first language is not German.
Additional perks such as free accommodation, medical care, and unlimited rail travel across the country will also be highlighted in an expansive advertising blitz.
Officials hope the combined effect of these incentives and legislative changes will boost annual Bundeswehr recruitment by 3,000 to 5,000 volunteers over the next several years.
The government’s plan ultimately envisions welcoming up to 40,000 new military personnel—both men and women—each year by the end of the decade.
In addition to growing its active forces, Germany also aims to build up a pool of 200,000 trained reservists to support national defence efforts.
The sweeping changes to Germany’s defence posture come as former US President Donald Trump casts doubt over American support for NATO and European security commitments.
German officials see the expansion of the Bundeswehr and related legislation as part of a broader strategic shift to bolster the country’s self-reliance in defence matters.
To support this military build-up, Berlin plans to nearly triple its annual defence budget, raising it to approximately €162 billion (£141 billion) by 2029.
If implemented, this would mark one of the most dramatic increases in Germany’s peacetime military spending in modern history.
Germany is not alone in re-evaluating military conscription. At least 13 other European countries already require some form of service, including Austria, Denmark, Estonia, and Cyprus.
Latvia reinstated its compulsory military service in January 2024, after a 16-year pause that began in 2007.
Croatia, too, is preparing to resume conscription. From 2026, all men aged 18 to 30 will be required to serve, ending a 17-year gap in mandatory enlistment.
These moves reflect a growing trend among European states to reinforce national defence capabilities amid rising global instability and shifting international alliances.
Editing by M10News International Desk | Contact: international@m10news.com
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