Overview

• Counseling groups report a sharp rise in interest, with the DFGVK logging 54,946 website visits in August versus 24,151 in May and shifting its advice to urge early conscientious‑objection filings, especially for those born after January 1, 2010.
• The draft law requires men from the 2008 cohort to complete a questionnaire starting January 2026, invites selected youths to assessments, makes women’s participation optional, and introduces mandatory Musterung for men from July 1, 2027.
• Official data show 1,363 conscientious‑objection applications reached the federal office by the end of June, while the EAK notes that advice requests rose by more than 30 percent last year.
• Parliamentary armed forces commissioner Henning Otte advocates a one‑year compulsory service for women and men across civilian and military roles, signaling that voluntary recruitment may not suffice and implying a constitutional change for a universal duty.
• CSU leader Markus Söder argued on national TV that Germany should impose a duty if voluntary sign‑ups fall short, as youth organizations warn of a ‘backdoor’ return of conscription and the Linksjugend rejects a separate push for a compulsory school‑based social year.