Overview

• After approving a largely voluntary Wehrdienst, the cabinet’s draft keeps a parliamentary option to reinstate mandatory service if recruitment targets are missed.
• Merz told France’s TF1 he would not rule out extending a future draft to women, noting current constitutional barriers would first need to be addressed.
• Operational steps include outreach letters to all 18-year-olds starting in 2026 and mandatory medical musterings for certain male cohorts from July 2027, with women able to respond voluntarily.
• The reform raises compensation for short-term service to match soldiers under contract, with an 18-year-old rifleman listed at €2,706.99 gross and €2,320.86 net per month.
• An INSA poll reported by BILD finds only 29% expect the plan to deliver enough recruits as CDU/CSU figures push for an automatic fallback to conscription and Kanzleramtschef Thorsten Frei signals a Bundestag decision would be feasible if needed.