Overview
- Since January 2026 the Wehrdienst modernization law has required 18‑year‑old men to complete a compulsory Musterung screening while preserving voluntary enlistment in the Bundeswehr.
- The Bundeswehr has sent questionnaires to roughly 492,800 18‑year‑olds and reports that about 96 percent of men returned the form by the September deadline.
- From October the military began pursuing administrative‑offense proceedings for late or missing questionnaires with fines of up to €250 and has already planned call‑ups for about 1,150 men this year after running some assessments.
- Applications to be recognised as conscientious objectors have jumped sharply, with 16,869 filings from January through October 31, 2026 and nearly 1,900 new applications in October alone.
- The ministry is building 24 modern muster centres so full, nationwide screening of year groups can begin in July 2027 and a pending Dunkelfeld study on sexualised misconduct could shape further public response and objection rates.