Germany rules out compulsory military service, opts for voluntary model amid Russian threat

The German government has ruled out reintroducing compulsory military service after weeks of heated debate, opting instead for a voluntary recruitment model to strengthen its armed forces.

Under the new plan, aimed at rebuilding Germany’s depleted military, young men will be required from next year to declare their willingness to serve and undergo a medical examination. While participation will remain voluntary, authorities have indicated that if recruitment targets are not met, a compulsory call-up could be reconsidered, a move that would require new legislation.

Women will be encouraged to join the military voluntarily but will not be part of the mandatory selection process.

Like many Western nations, Germany drastically reduced its army after the end of the Cold War. However, rising tensions with Russia and growing uncertainty over Washington’s long-term commitment to European security have prompted calls for a stronger defence posture. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to transform the Bundeswehr into “Europe’s strongest conventional army.”

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Security officials have also warned that Russia could be capable of launching a large-scale attack on Germany or other parts of Europe within the next few years.

“We will make voluntary service more attractive,” Jens Spahn, parliamentary leader of Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU), told reporters on Thursday. “We want to win over as many young people as possible for service to the fatherland,” he said, adding that compulsory service could only be introduced through fresh legislation if voluntary efforts fell short.

The proposed model draws inspiration from Denmark, where conscription is technically mandatory but only a small number of recruits are selected through a lottery system because volunteer turnout is already high.

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According to negotiators, the focus is on making voluntary service appealing by offering incentives such as drone training, a monthly gross salary of €2,600, and financial assistance for obtaining a driver’s licence for those committing to more than a year of service.

A draft law on “New Military Service” outlines plans by the Defence Ministry to expand the armed forces to about 460,000 personnel, including reservists, by 2035. Of these, roughly 260,000 will be active soldiers and 200,000 reservists, forming the core of Germany’s long-term defence and alliance strategy.

With inputs from agencies