German government agrees on new military service law

The German government has reached an agreement on the country’s new military service law, which will apply to male German citizens from January 2026.

CDU/CSU-SPD agree on new military service law

Germany’s CDU/CSU-SPD government has agreed on a new military service law, according to a report from the ARD Hauptstadtstudio. Military service will remain voluntary, so long as the German army (Bundeswehr) is on track to reach its goal of increasing volunteer numbers from 80.000 to 260.000 by 2035.

Under the new law, starting in 2026, all male German citizens who were born on or after January 1, 2008, will be obliged to complete a questionnaire about their willingness to serve in the Bundeswehr. The questionnaire will be voluntary for female citizens. 

After completing the questionnaire, all male German citizens born after January 1, 2008, will be obliged to attend a medical examination to determine if they are fit to serve in the Bundeswehr. If they pass the examination and choose to complete military service, those who serve fewer than 12 months will become “voluntary military personnel” and those who serve longer than 12 months will become “temporary soldiers”. 

Between now and 2035, the German government will monitor whether targets for voluntary service are being met. If they are not being met, the government will introduce a lottery system to select citizens who have completed the questionnaire and passed the medical examination to serve in the Bundeswehr.

However, it is unclear which targets have been set for which dates between now and 2035. If compulsory military service were introduced, the government would have to draft and pass a new military service law.

Volunteers are likely to come forward, says SPD whip

SPD whip Matthias Miersch said politicians were “very certain that we will manage within the framework of volunteers”, according to a report from Die Zeit. To emphasise the importance of voluntary military service, the government has held discussions with budget policymakers to increase the number of places for voluntary service from 15.000 to over 100.000.

Salaries for voluntary military service will also be increased. “Other European countries, particularly in the north, show that the principle of combining voluntary service with attractive conditions works, and I expect it will be the same for us,” Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) added. 

“There is no reason to be concerned, no reason to be fearful,” Pistorius continued. “The more capable our armed forces are of deterrence and defence, through armament, training, and personnel, the less likely we are to become involved in a conflict at all.”