Overview

• The cabinet‑backed draft law introduces questionnaires for 18‑year‑old men from January 1, 2026 and reinstates compulsory Musterung for men from July 1, 2027, while initially prioritizing voluntary service; women may answer the questionnaire but are not required to.
• Conscientious‑objection groups report a sharp rise in demand and have shifted their guidance to recommend early applications, noting 54,946 website visits in August versus 24,151 in May.
• Official data show 1,363 conscientious‑objector applications filed by end‑June 2025, after 2,241 in 2024, 1,079 in 2023 and 951 in 2022.
• CSU leader Markus Söder publicly argued for reintroducing conscription, saying volunteer intake will not meet defense needs given the current threat environment.
• Bundestag military ombudsman Henning Otte proposed a mandatory service year for women and men with civilian options such as emergency services, while the Left party moved to delete the Wehrpflicht provision from the Basic Law and vowed to help youths avoid forced service.