Bundeswehr: Steinmeier for return to compulsory military service

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has spoken out for an introduction of a new form of compulsory military service in Germany. A debate about compulsory military service is necessary-“if possible with a positive end, so that in the event that not enough volunteers come, then we also come back to a presumably different compulsory conscription than those that we have already abolished,” as Steinmeier said in the summer interview of the ZDF program “Berlin directly”.

“I am representative of compulsory military service”

“I am a representative of compulsory military service,” said Steinmeier. The Federal President referred to the change in the security situation in Europe, the war of Russia in Ukraine and the changed attitude of the Trump government in the United States about transatlantic relationships.

Distribution Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) rightly said: “We now need a more attractive Bundeswehr that also attracts young people.” However, nobody can estimate whether that would be enough, said Steinmeier. “That is why we now need a debate about compulsory military service, even if we cannot implement it overnight, because after the suspension of compulsory military service in 2011, barracks have been closed and the entire staff who had operated until then are no longer available.”

Mandatory patterns from 2027?

According to Pistorius’ plans, there should be the possibility, for example, with the consent of the Bundestag to arrange the mandatory use of conscripts if the defense policy situation requires this. It is planned to start with 15,000 new military service providers and to introduce a mandatory pattern from 2027.

The compulsory military service was suspended in 2011, but is still anchored in the Basic Law. It can be reintroduced with a simple majority. The Basic Law would have to be changed for a general duty of duty, which then also applies to women.