Friedrich Merz Advocates for New Mandatory Service Model in Germany

The CDU leader proposes a contingent military service and societal year to bolster Germany's defense capabilities amid rising European threats.

Friedrich Merz, CDU's chancellor candidate, is promoting a mandatory societal year that includes military and community service for young Germans.
The proposal arises from concerns about Europe's security landscape and aims to address the Bundeswehr's personnel shortages.
The contingent military service would determine personnel needs annually, drafting only those necessary to fulfill these requirements.
Merz emphasizes the importance of defending freedom, stating that it exists only in democratic societies, unlike peace, which can be found in any graveyard.
Generalinspekteur Carsten Breuer warns of a potential large-scale Russian threat in the coming years, urging a rapid expansion of the Bundeswehr to ensure Germany's defense readiness.