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4h ago

Germany Passes Military Service Overhaul With Voluntary Track and Conscription Fallback

The reform seeks to rebuild the Bundeswehr to meet NATO readiness goals after Russia’s invasion reshaped Europe’s security calculus.

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Recruits attend a combat exercise with the G36 assault rifle at the Westfalen-Kaserne barracks of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) in Ahlen, western Germany, on November 13.
In a poll of nine major European countries, Germany and France among them, 69 per cent thought their country could defend itself in the event of a Russian attack. Nick Donaldson / The National

Overview

  • The Bundestag approved the Military Service Modernization Act by 323–272, establishing a new framework for recruiting and, if needed, drafting.
  • The law prioritizes better-paid voluntary service, with starting pay around €2,600, while reserving a parliamentary option for needs-based conscription if quotas are missed.
  • From January 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a service questionnaire, which is mandatory for men and voluntary for women.
  • Mandatory medical examinations for men born in 2008 or later will be phased in from mid-2027 to build a draftable pool.
  • Germany set targets to grow to about 260,000 active soldiers and at least 200,000 reservists by 2035, and nationwide youth protests were reported in roughly 90 towns and cities.