Germany brings in compulsory military service screening as Russia tensions rise
Every single 18-year-old male will be asked about his willingness to join the army in a German drive to recruit more soldiers.
The compulsory questionnaire is part of a proposed new law which opens a path to bringing back conscription in the future.
The government will also launch an advertising blitz to persuade young people to sign up, including by offering bonuses such as subsidised driving licenses and language courses.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is spearheading efforts to build up Germany’s military capability as Donald Trump threw US support for European security into doubt.
The country’s Bundeswehr wants to ramp up the number of serving personnel from 182,000 to 260,000.
To do this, the proposed new law will be ask all 18-year-old men from 2028 to fill out a questionnaire about their readiness to serve in the military.
Woman can voluntarily fill out the survey as well.
The draft legislation would also allow conscription to be reintroduced if the security situation demanded, and if parliament approved.
Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011 by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Alongside the screening questions, the government are considering a string of measures to make joining the military more attractive for young men, t-online reports.
On table are proposals to subsidise the cost of a driving license, run personal training for professional development, and make language courses more accessible for non-native speakers.
They will also run an intensive advertising campaign, highlighting other bonuses such as free accommodation, health care and rail travel.
The plan is to increase the number of new volunteers joining the Bundeswehr by 3,000 to 5,000 each year.
By 2031, the Bundeswehr will be welcoming up to 40,000 women and men annually.
The government also wants there to be 200,000 reservists alongside the goal of 260,000 active personnel.
The country also intends to almost triple the regular defence budget to approximately 162 billion euros (£141 billion) per year by 2029.
Several European states already have existing laws mandating military conscription, with 13 countries requiring certain citizens to do some form of service.
These include Austria, Cyprus, Denmark and Estonia.
The latest to reintroduce compulsory service was Latvia in January 2024 – more than 16 years after it dropped the measure in 2007.
In Croatia, men aged 18 to 30 will be conscripted from 2026. The country reintroduced the policy after a 17-year hiatus.
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