Germany: Will compulsory military service return?

2024-06-14 10:56:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany: Will compulsory military service return?

Boris Pistorius at the press conference presents the plans for the reform of the army

Since the recruitment freeze in 2011, the Bundeswehr has been short of soldiers. Instead of hiring more personnel, the Bundeswehr began to downsize. In March, statistics recorded only 181,123 recruits. According to the plans of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD), this must now change. Germany's promise to NATO: by 2031, the Bundeswehr should number 203,000 soldiers, and later perhaps even 240,000.

Defense Minister Pistorius has repeatedly said that the Bundeswehr must finally become "ready for war". Pistorius talks about a new threatening situation. "Russia is waging war," he told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday (13.06.2024). As he said, Russia will be able to attack one of the NATO members in 2029. Pistorius spent months preparing his concept for the new military service that he now presented in Berlin. However, there is no longer talk of compulsory military service: "We envisage selective military service. The best prepared, the most suitable and the most motivated should be selected for military service," explains Pistorius.

Problem: limited infrastructure

Boris Pistorius presents plans for army reform

Pistorius' concept does not include general military conscription. Initially, the only requirement is that 18-year-olds fill out a questionnaire. This is an obligation for men, but not for women. Those contacted must explain whether they would generally be willing to serve in the military. This would last six months, with the possibility of extension up to 23 months. Pistorius estimates that around 400,000 men will have to fill out the questionnaire each year. He hopes a quarter of them may show interest. It is planned that about 40,000 candidates will be invited for the exam, ie control of their physical and mental abilities. Participation by invitation is mandatory. Of course, the right to subsequently refuse military service still exists.

The issue of sufficient capacity for full assembly and training remains unclear. "The limiting factor," according to Pistorius, is the limited infrastructure. This means barracks, instructors, equipment. It is estimated that to reach the target of 5,000 additional recruits per year, around 1.4 billion euros would be needed. Pistorius also expects an increase of the number of so-called reservists, mainly those who served before the suspension of military service in 2011. He wants to contact them and hopes to increase the number of reservists by 200,000 people.

"Semi-Voluntary" Military Service

These plans make the volunteer forces of the Bundeswehr less and less voluntary. For Hans-Peter Bartels, however, Pistorius' concept may only be the first step. He is president of the Association for Security Policy, and was previously defense commissioner of the German Bundestag. In an interview for DW, Bartels clearly states that the questionnaire alone "doesn't solve the problem". "The questionnaire is there to complete it. And if in doubt, fill it out so they don't touch you again. It might change things a little, but as a rule it doesn't change anything."

Bartels sees another problem: the principle of fairness in recruitment; it means that men and women are equally responsible. According to the constitution, compulsory military service in Germany currently only affects men. "If you wanted to achieve what the minister wants, you would have to change the Constitution. And Pistorius knows that. As it stands now, his plan is not working," says Bartels.

With the rearmament of the Federal Republic of Germany in the mid-1950s, men from the age of 18 were conscripted into military service. The idea: soldiers should be "citizens in uniform". In the summer of 2011, compulsory military service in Germany was suspended, but not abolished. At that time, the Bundeswehr would be reduced. But in case of any tension or need for defense, conscription can be activated again. Today, the Bundeswehr is a volunteer army in which women also serve. From the beginning, Boris Pistorius criticized the suspension of military service, even calling it a "mistake".

Germans love conscription

Boris Pistorius during a visit to the soldiers

If you ask Germans whether the country needs military service again, most are of the opinion: Yes! A recent poll by the YouGov public opinion research institute for the daily "Welt am Sonntag" showed that 60 percent were in favor of general conscription.

Politicians reacted quite reservedly to the concept presented by Pistorius. Especially in the governing coalition of SPD, Greens and Liberals (FDP). SPD politician Boris Pistorius is also facing resistance within his own party. Chancellor Olaf Scholz was reserved from the start. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil spoke in favor of continuing to rely on voluntary recruitment. Even the green coalition partner is quite skeptical. FDP head Christian Lindner wrote in X: "Instead of new recruitment, we should get more people interested in serving in the Bundeswehr and strengthen the reserve." Pistorius received support in principle from the ranks of the opposition Christian Democratic Union CDU/CSU. However, the Union would like more obligations and less voluntarism.

Defense expert Hans-Peter Bartels sums up the situation for DW: "The concept is not a complete strike, but the beginning of a change that tells us that we urgently need more changes." Clearly, Pistorius' ideas are mostly just that - ideas. Now begins the real social and political discussion about the concept of Pistorius./ DW