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Germany inches close to agreement on contentious military service but questions remain
- On Thursday morning, the governing coalition finalised a 'voluntary now, compulsory later' military service law at a Berlin press conference, effective 1 January 2026.
- To bolster national defence, the Ministry of Defence plans a long-term force of around 460,000 including reserves, with roughly 260,000 active soldiers to meet NATO requirements and counter Russia.
- The reform centres on a voluntary model initially, with compulsory service reintroduced via separate legislation and a lottery if volunteers fall short; all 18-year-old men face medical checks and receive incentives after 12 months.
- All 18-year-old men will respond to a survey; young people born in 2008 or later may face conscription from July 2027 or 2028, depending on volunteer success.
- Coalition disagreements persist, with CDU/CSU favouring random selection and growth targets while SPD prioritises voluntary service, as military historian S�nke Neitzel said, `The introduction of compulsory conscription would be absolutely essential for a rapid increase in the number of personnel in the Bundeswehr`.
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59 Articles
59 Articles
The principle of voluntaryness remains, dear to social democracy, but if it turns out insufficient the plan allows to recall candidates in a random way. The first generation that will have to submit to the obligation of the visit will be the one born in 2008
·Turin, Italy
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Targets for the increase of the Bundeswehr, a comprehensive patterning and a "need for military service" if voluntary service does not work. What the agreed changes in the military service mean.
Targets for the increase of the Bundeswehr, a comprehensive patterning and a "need for military service" if voluntary service does not work. What the agreed changes in the military service mean.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources59
Leaning Left8Leaning Right9Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution41% Center
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources are Center
41% Center
L 28%
C 41%
R 31%
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