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Coalition Divided Over Conscription as Bundeswehr Secures 10,000 New Posts

SPD tells Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to boost volunteer recruitment through pay hikes, flexible service models, driving-licence benefits before considering conscription

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Soldatinnen und Soldaten der Bundeswehr.
Aus der SPD kommen Forderungen, die Bundeswehr mit einem höheren Sold attraktiver zu machen, statt auf eine Wehrpflicht zu setzen.
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Overview

  • CDU/CSU leaders are pushing the SPD for a swift decision on mandatory service to meet NATO’s requirement for up to 260,000 active troops
  • Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has won approval to recruit 10,000 additional soldiers and 1,000 civilian staff in 2025 under a confidential budget proposal
  • The Bundeswehr currently fields about 181,000 personnel but requires an extra 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers to satisfy alliance commitments
  • A YouGov poll shows 54 percent of Germans back reinstating conscription, yet SPD figures insist volunteer incentives must be exhausted first
  • SPD defence spokesman Falko Droßmann warned that introducing compulsory service before upgrading infrastructure and terms could undermine long-term recruitment goals