Germany Sets Out New Military Service Plan to Rebuild Bundeswehr and Boost Troop Numbers

Germany’s coalition government has approved a major overhaul of military service, setting out a plan to rebuild the country’s troop strength after years of decline.

Under the proposal, all 18-year-old men will be required to complete a questionnaire on their suitability for military service from next year, while women will be invited to do so voluntarily. From 2027, men will also undergo compulsory medical screening to assess whether they are fit for duty.

The German army, the Bundeswehr, currently fields around 182 000 soldiers, but the government wants to expand that to between 255 000 and 260 000 over the next decade, supported by about 200 000 reservists.

Officials say the new model is designed to boost recruitment and ensure Germany can respond to a more volatile security environment. Defence officials have warned that the European and North American military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, must be ready for a potential Russian threat within four years.

The plan faces pushback from parts of the left and from young Germans who oppose any return to mandatory service.

However, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has argued that stronger forces will enhance deterrence and reduce the likelihood of Germany being drawn into conflict. The Bundestag, the German parliament, is expected to vote on the proposal by the end of 2025.