Germany is considering the reintroduction of mandatory military service if its current voluntary enlistment system fails to attract enough recruits, according to a statement from Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. He shared these insights during an interview with Frankfurter’s Argemine sonntagszeitung.
Pistorius outlined a timeline for the proposed changes aimed at strengthening the German military. While the initial plan relies on volunteers, he highlighted that adjustments could be made if recruitment goals aren’t met. “If voluntary registration yields insufficient capacity, mandating recruitment could become necessary,” he explained.
The German government, led by Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, is moving quickly on the new military service legislation, which they hope will be in place by January 2026. These discussions come as Europe grapples with heightened security threats and the ongoing challenges posed by recent conflicts.
Germany ended its conscription policy in 2011, but since then has faced difficulties meeting military readiness targets—especially in light of increased defense demands following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pistorius also mentioned plans to bolster reserve forces as part of the military service strategy.
