Overview

• Germany’s SPD-CDU/CSU coalition aims to expand the Bundeswehr to 460,000 personnel by 2029 without reinstating conscription, relying on voluntary enlistment and mandatory questionnaires for 18-year-old men.
• The Bundeswehr currently has 182,000 active soldiers and only 50,000 mobilizable reservists, far below the 90,000 needed, raising concerns about meeting expansion targets.
• Military leaders, including Generalleutnant Harald Gante, warn that voluntary recruitment alone may be insufficient and stress the potential necessity of reintroducing conscription to address personnel shortages.
• SPD Chairman Lars Klingbeil has proposed new incentives, such as free driver’s licenses, to attract recruits, while experts emphasize the need for modern equipment and improved public perception of military service.
• Incomplete data on former soldiers, including health and contact information, complicates reserve planning, with experts cautioning that the Bundeswehr risks operational collapse without significant progress.