In fresh weeks, there have been many speculations about returning to compulsory military service: The Bundeswehre lacks staff and the military profession is not very popular with young people. In particular, CDU and CSU conservative parties called for a gradual return to compulsory military service during the election campaign. Many another European countries have long since restored their work to service in the army.
Social democrats, however, are opposed to compulsory service. First of all, acting Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, who will most likely hold his position in the fresh national government consisting of CDU/CSU and SPD. Thus the future chancellor, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, announced during the presentation of the coalition agreement that "we will initially strengthen military service in Germany on a voluntary basis, according to the Swedish model".
Mandatory questionnaire
On the basis of a model that is successfully practiced in Sweden, all 18-year-olds of a given yearbook receive a questionnaire. Questions, for example on physical fitness and readiness for military service, are compulsory for men and voluntary for women. The answers will find who gets an invitation to talk to the draft board. As Botris Pistorius explained last year, "Those who are the most capable, the most appropriate and the most motivated should be chosen for military service."
The main nonsubjective is to reconstruct the "conscription register", which was resigned with the completion of compulsory military service in 2011. The conscript registry collects information on all citizens eligible for military service. This includes data on military age, skills and experience. In the event of a request for defence, the State would not now know who might be called into the military, complains the head of the Ministry of Defence.
Military service is to become more attractive. According to the coalition agreement of the future government: "Recognition through demanding service, coupled with the ability to rise qualifications, will permanently increase readiness for military service".
Pistorius had already tried to introduce specified a model of military service last year. The conflict in the coalition government prevented it. On November 6, erstwhile his task was approved by the government of the SPD, FDP and the Greens, this fell apart and the bill's draft never went to the Bundestag.
Mandatory military service for decades
The compulsory military service in force since 1957 went to the waste of German past in 2011. It was abolished due to the fact that it did not correspond to the spirit of the times. Since the end of the Cold War, the Bundeswehr, which counted almost half a million soldiers, has shrunk significantly. alternatively of focusing on national defence, she focused on abroad missions. She no longer needed a crowd of eighteen-year-olds who were put into the army for six months, due to the fact that yet the military service lasted so short.
Besides, the Bundeswehra was able to accept only a tiny condition of the young men from each year. In practice, this meant that while any young men could start vocational training or studies, others had to enlist in the Bundeswehr. From a legal point of view, this was a problematic unequal treatment.
The safety situation has now changed substantially. Russia's war against Ukraine, hybrid attacks on NATO members and the U.S. government's turning distant from Europe – all this led to the belief that Germany must improve its own military situation. With more weapons for the Bundeswehr, for which the future national government will have quite a few money at its disposal. But besides thanks to more staff. The number of active soldiers has stood inactive for any time. presently it is 182,000 soldiers.
There are no pilots, IT specialists and electrical engineers. Bundeswehra offers a wide scope of training programs, free rail rides in uniform and free medical care. Nevertheless, only a fewer young people think of Bundeswehra as employers. There are besides many alternatives to the German labour market, which is already suffering from shortages of skilled workers. The CDU/CSU and SPD coalition parties now hope that more candidates will be curious in the Bundeswehr if they gotta face the issue of national defence with a questionnaire.
Infrastructure capabilities of the Bundeswehr
There is besides a applicable reason why the future German government inactive prefers voluntary military service. The Bundeswehr would not be able to accept all the young conscripts of a given year. There is presently no infrastructure available until 2011, especially accommodation and instructors.
Currently, a maximum of 15,000 seats are available for volunteer military service, of which only 10 000 are filled. 5 000 more volunteers could so be admitted immediately and effortlessly, points out General Carsten Breuer. He added, "We request opportunities for development."
However, if more conscripts were accepted in 1 attempt, the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr could suffer. At the same time, the commander of the armoured troops could not train conscripts and "keep operational readiness to fight on the east NATO flank," Breuer explained during discussions at the German abroad Relations Council (DGAP).
Possible restoration of compulsory military service
If the fresh military service, which under the coalition agreement is based "initially on volunteer service", will not be successful, the fresh national government can easy return to compulsory military service. It was only legally deactivated in 2011, but was not removed from the Basic Act. However, it concerns only men. If women were besides to be obliged to serve, the Basic Act would should be amended accordingly. This would only be possible by a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.
