Overview

• The cabinet‑approved draft sets mandatory questionnaires for men of the 2008 cohort from January 1, 2026, with compulsory medical assessments for men starting July 1, 2027, while women may respond voluntarily.
• Conscientious‑objection groups report sharply higher interest, with DFG‑VK logging 54,946 website visits in August versus 24,151 in May, and the EAK citing a rise in inquiries already in 2024.
• Advisers have shifted strategy and now urge especially those born after January 1, 2010 to file for recognition as conscientious objectors because they will be called to assessment under the new rules.
• Official data show 1,363 conscientious‑objection applications filed by the end of June 2025, compared with 2,241 in 2024, 1,079 in 2023 and 951 in 2022.
• Political pressures are intensifying, with CSU leader Markus Söder arguing duty should follow if volunteers fall short, Wehrbeauftragter Henning Otte proposing a compulsory service year for men and women across sectors, and Die Linke submitting a motion to remove conscription from the Basic Law, a step that would complicate any bid to include women without a two‑thirds majority.