Germany’s parliament has voted to reintroduce voluntary military service for young adults, marking one of the country’s biggest defence reforms in more than a decade. The move, driven by concerns over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and pressure to strengthen Europe’s security, will see all 18-year-old men receive a mandatory questionnaire from January 2026 asking about their willingness to serve in the armed forces. Women will be allowed to respond voluntarily.
The policy represents a major shift from Germany’s post-Cold War stance. Compulsory military service was abolished in 2011 under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and troop numbers steadily declined in the years that followed. But with Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledging to build the strongest conventional army in Europe, Germany is now reversing course.
The proposal has sparked widespread protests across the country. Students in at least 90 cities have announced school strikes, arguing the policy forces young people into military structures they do not support. Protest organisers said on social media that they did not want to spend “half a year of our lives locked up in barracks… learning to kill,” and warned that “war offers no prospects for the future.” In Hamburg alone, more than 1,500 demonstrators were expected, with schools cautioning parents not to keep their children home for the protests.
A smaller group of demonstrators also gathered outside the Bundestag during the vote, holding banners reading “No to military service.” Despite the opposition, MPs approved the measure by 323 votes to 272, placing Germany among several European countries reviving or expanding forms of national service. France, for instance, recently announced a 10-month voluntary programme for its 18- and 19-year-olds.
Under Germany’s plan, the government insists voluntary service will remain the standard for as long as possible. But from July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo medical examinations to determine their fitness for potential service—part of what Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described as essential preparation to avoid delays “in the event of an attack.” Officials warn that if too few volunteers sign up or if security deteriorates, a more compulsory system could be considered.
Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, currently has around 182,000 troops. The government aims to add 20,000 more soldiers within a year and ultimately expand to 260,000 active personnel in the early 2030s, supported by an additional 200,000 reservists. The push comes amid increased NATO expectations and pressure from the United States to boost defence spending.
Incentives for joining the service are comparatively generous, with volunteers earning about €2,600 per month—significantly higher than the salary offered under France’s new scheme.
Friday also saw the Bundestag consider a separate, politically sensitive pensions reform intended to maintain current pension levels until 2031. The bill, part of the governing coalition agreement, had faced internal resistance from younger conservatives who argued it would unfairly burden future generations. However, with the far-left Left Party signalling it would abstain, the reform now appears likely to pass, averting a potential government crisis.
