Germany May Reintroduce Mandatory Military Service in 2026

Germany is on the brink of significant changes in its defense sector. The country’s Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, announced that mandatory military service may be reinstated in Germany starting in 2026. This possibility will be implemented if there is insufficient recruitment of voluntary young people.

Pistorius emphasized that the German army is currently facing a critical shortage of around 100,000 personnel. The current service model is based on voluntary participation, and the minister openly acknowledged that this system might not work effectively.

“Our initial goal is to recruit young people into the army on a voluntary basis,” said Pistorius. “But if, at some point, there are more vacant positions than applications, we will have to reinstate mandatory military service.”

According to him, the relevant bill could come into effect on January 1, 2025. Additionally, Pistorius stressed the need to reactivate Germany’s reserve forces. Currently, the country has about 800,000 reserve soldiers, of which 60,000 are ready for service. Furthermore, there is the possibility of mobilizing about 150,000 citizens who have expressed interest.

According to calculations, if active duty soldiers, reserves, and potential recruits are added together, Germany's armed forces could reach a total of 460,000 soldiers. However, the minister believes that even this is not enough.

Mandatory service was abolished in Germany in 2011, and it was only applicable in peacetime. However, given the current geopolitical situation and security threats in Europe, this decision is now being reconsidered.

Pistorius noted that no mandatory service will be introduced in 2024, but programs to recruit young people into the army on a voluntary basis will be expanded. For this, cooperation with educational institutions and local authorities will be established. To make military service more attractive, social guarantees, salaries, and educational opportunities will also be expanded.

Moreover, the country’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has announced that turning the armed forces into Europe’s strongest army will be a top priority of his government. According to him, Germany must not depend on others for security.

These plans are resonating with some Western politicians, who are calling for preparation for war by 2029. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called this an “unfounded panic.”

The issue of military service in Germany is of significant importance not only in terms of defense but also from the perspective of social and political stability. If mandatory service is reinstated, it will affect millions of young people and mark a new stage in the country’s internal politics.

How this process will unfold, how young people will respond to this call, and what impact it will have across Europe will become clear in the coming months. The public continues to follow these developments with interest. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!