Overview

• The defense minister says mustering entire male year-groups would be recorded in Moscow and serve as a deterrent to Russia.
• He urges the Bundestag to pass the bill by December so it can take effect at the start of 2026, reiterating a preference for volunteers first.
• A cross-party compromise that included a lottery collapsed after his pushback, and he publicly criticized the process as damaging to the coalition’s reputation.
• The plan foresees mandatory digital registration forms for men beginning in 2026, voluntary for women, and rebuilding muster infrastructure to enable nationwide assessments by mid-2027.
• Polling reported by German media shows a majority opposed to a lottery system, while conscientious objector groups report rising inquiries.