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10h ago

Germany Opens Debate on Voluntary Military Service as Coalition Splits Over Lottery Plan

Leaders insist the timetable holds despite disagreements over contingency recruitment.

Des soldats de l'armée allemande, le 2 octobre à Berlin.
Un questionnaire obligatoire sera soumis aux hommes dès 18 ans, portant sur leurs parcours scolaire et professionnel et leur envie de s'engager.
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Overview

  • The Bundestag began debating a bill to reintroduce non-compulsory service designed to boost the Bundeswehr’s ranks.
  • CDU/CSU lawmakers push a lottery to select recruits if volunteers fall short, a proposal firmly rejected by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and SPD MPs.
  • The chancellery says the law will be passed and take effect on January 1, with a mandatory online survey for 18‑year‑olds planned for January 2026.
  • The reform targets about 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists by 2035, up from roughly 180,000 active personnel today.
  • Recruitment plans include letters to young adults offering service at €2,300 per month, with a goal of about 30,000 new recruits per year and polling showing strong youth opposition.