Overview
- Unionsfraktionsvize Sepp Müller proposes letting willing former NVA soldiers serve as voluntary reservists for homeland defense after short refresher courses and a new oath to the Basic Law.
- Most ex‑NVA are barred from the reserve under the Einigungsvertrag unless they were absorbed in 1990, making any reversal a matter for lawmakers.
- SPD deputy leader Siemtje Möller urges attention on current and upcoming servicemembers, while Green security spokeswoman Sara Nanni argues Bundeswehr training capacity, not interest, is the main constraint.
- The Bundeswehr plans for about 200,000 ready reservists but has roughly 51,000; Heimatschutzregimenter largely rely on reservists to secure infrastructure and enable troop movements.
- The government is also preparing Zivildienst structures as conscientious‑objector applications rise and will send a 2026 service-interest questionnaire to the 2008 cohort, with responses mandatory for men.