Overview

• Germany will launch a Swedish-inspired voluntary military service model in January 2026 that mandates registration for men and offers voluntary enlistment for women.
• Generalmajor Andreas Henne cautions that the Bundeswehr will hit volunteer capacity limits and require mandatory elements to secure defense-critical infrastructure.
• Generalinspekteur Carsten Breuer reports a 20% rise in first-quarter enlistments but says political decisions on conscription will follow if volunteer numbers fall short.
• The government aims to expand active forces to 203,000 personnel by 2031, reserving conscription as a fallback to bolster ranks.
• Public opinion is divided with polls indicating roughly 58% support for reintroducing conscription, underscoring debate over long-term military staffing.