Overview
- The federal office for family and civic tasks recorded 12,102 applications for conscientious objection from January through the end of August 2026, more than three times the total for 2025.
- The rise followed the new Wehrdienstgesetz and a Bundeswehr campaign that sent roughly 450,000 questionnaires to 18‑year‑olds, which prompted many young people to consider and file objections.
- BAFzA officials report a high number of improperly filed or substantively deficient requests that must be returned, with common problems including misdirected forms and use of internet templates or AI‑generated texts.
- Applicants must generally complete a Musterung (fitness screening) run by the Bundeswehr and submit a signed, personally written statement plus a CV to be processed, and current volumes are lengthening handling times.
- Interest in the Bundeswehr as an employer remains strong with about 85,000 initial consultations, roughly 53,100 applications and about 17,000 hires by August 31, 2026, while a mandatory Musterung for the 2008 birth cohort starts July 1, 2027.