Overview
- Union and SPD negotiators reached a basic deal to reboot military service, ending a weeks-long standoff over targets and selection rules.
- From January 1, 2026, all 18-year-old men must complete a Bundeswehr questionnaire and undergo medical screening, while women receive information and may opt in, with more than 300,000 men in a full year group to be assessed.
- The plan sets growth targets of roughly 260,000 personnel in the standing force—about 80,000 more than today—and about 200,000 reservists.
- If volunteer intake falls short, the Bundestag could activate a demand-based conscription that may use a lottery to select conscripts.
- Service pay is slated at about €2,600 per month, and civilian options will expand with 15,000 additional Bundesfreiwilligendienst positions, as lawmakers finalize legal text, logistics for mass musterings, and parliamentary approval.