Overview
- The Bundestag-approved law restores year-group registration, requiring all 18-year-olds to receive a suitability questionnaire and mandating Musterung for men born from January 2008.
- The measure prioritizes voluntary service with incentives such as roughly €2,600 monthly pay and driver’s-license subsidies, with a potential Bedarfswehrpflicht if targets are missed.
- Force-growth goals call for 255,000–270,000 active personnel by 2035 and 200,000 reservists, up from roughly 184,000 soldiers today.
- Sahra Wagenknecht urges state governments involving BSW, the Left or Greens to block the bill, though the Bundesrat’s defense committee has recommended approval and passage is considered likely this week.
- The Family Ministry has begun exploratory meetings with welfare, emergency and sector associations: the Red Cross signals readiness to provide placements, the Paritätischer favors expanding voluntary services, and the crafts lobby proposes Zivildienst roles in handwork businesses.