Overview

• Germany's government plans to launch a voluntary military service model in 2025, addressing personnel shortages in the Bundeswehr.
• Under the proposal, all eligible men must complete a questionnaire on military fitness and motivation, while women can participate voluntarily.
• A recent YouGov poll shows 56% of Germans support the initiative, with older demographics expressing the strongest approval.
• Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has modeled the plan on Sweden's system, aiming to modernize recruitment amid declining Bundeswehr numbers and an aging force.
• Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who once refused military service, emphasized the need for more soldiers to prepare for potential conventional conflicts.