Overview

• Following cabinet approval of the Wehrdienstgesetz draft, medical and fitness assessments become mandatory for men from July 1, 2027, after an initial voluntary service phase.
• From January 1, 2026, cohorts beginning with those born in 2008 must complete a questionnaire on willingness and suitability for service, while women may respond voluntarily.
• Conscientious‑objection advisers now recommend filing applications—especially for those born after January 1, 2010—reversing earlier guidance that sought to avoid triggering a muster notice.
• Counseling demand has jumped, with the DFGVK reporting 54,946 website visits in August versus 24,151 in May, and the EAK noting more than a 30% rise in consultation requests in 2024.
• The Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs recorded 1,363 conscientious‑objection applications through June 2025, compared with 2,241 in all of 2024, as youth groups such as the Green Youth criticize the plan as a backdoor return to conscription.