Bundeswehr Faces Calls for Drastic Expansion and Conscription Revival

Reservists' Association President Patrick Sensburg urges reforms to address personnel shortages, resource gaps, and national security risks.

Patrick Sensburg has called for increasing Bundeswehr reservists to one million, citing NATO calculations of potential high casualties in a war scenario.
Sensburg advocates reinstating mandatory military service, arguing voluntary recruitment efforts have been exhausted and are insufficient to meet defense needs.
The Bundeswehr currently has around 181,150 active soldiers and 40,000 reservists, falling significantly short of its estimated needs for national and NATO obligations.
Sensburg criticized bureaucratic barriers preventing willing applicants from joining the reserves, highlighting inefficiencies in recruitment processes.
He also emphasized the need to prioritize simpler, reliable equipment and sufficient ammunition stockpiles over high-tech military projects to ensure operational readiness.