US EditionGermany Launches Drive to Add Military Recruits Without Conscription for Now
- On Wednesday, the German federal cabinet approved a draft bill to introduce a voluntary military service model, authorised at a Defense Ministry Cabinet meeting, pending parliamentary approval.
- Following Russia's 2022 invasion, Germany aims to expand Bundeswehr forces to 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists to meet NATO commitments.
- Beginning next year, the government will send questionnaires to young men and women turning 18 about volunteering and skills; starting in mid-2027, young men face medical exams while pay rises to about 2,300 net salary.
- Coalition partners sparred over whether the law should allow an automatic return to conscription, while protesters blocked a recruitment office in Cologne, with Rheinmetall Entwaffnen opposing military service.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed confidence the initial recruitment numbers can be met, saying, `From today's perspective, I am confident that we will initially achieve the numbers we need`, but conscription can occur within one to three years if targets fall short.
106 Articles
106 Articles
Germany to boost military with new voluntary service bill
Amid rising concerns over the threat from Russia and in response to new NATO obligations, the German government is aiming to reverse the Bundeswehr’s long-standing recruitment shortfall. On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved an ambitious plan to expand the number of active-duty soldiers from the current 183,000 to 260,000 by the early 2030s. As part of this broader military buildup, officials are also seeking to double the number of reservists to 2…
After several weeks of debate, the Council of Ministers meeting in Berlin finally approved on Wednesday 27 August a draft law which provides for the gradual reintroduction of military service, reports the German media Der Spiegel. Only young volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 will be involved in the first phase. From 2026, they will be able to serve six months under flags and collect more than 2,000 euros net per month, equivalent to the s…
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