Conscription: The government’s back and forth is absurd (Opinion)

Well then. After the Defense Ministry initially appeared clueless, there are now increasing indications that the coalition has found a compromise in the dispute over compulsory military service.

“Drawing lots” is the magic word. It is intended to solve the problem that the Union wants to include the prospect of compulsory military service in the draft for a new military law, which the Bundestag will discuss in its first reading on Thursday. But the SPD is against it. The lottery process would come into play if not enough young men volunteered to enlist to fill the shortage of soldiers in the Bundeswehr. A group would then be chosen by lottery from the entire year that would be required to undergo mustering. She could then also be drafted into basic military service, which should last at least six months.

According to many military experts, six months of basic military service is not enough. Even the SPD in the Bundestag once ridiculed this model as a “trial course”. And stated: “General conscription has proven itself.” That was in 2010, a year before compulsory military service was suspended in Germany.

15 years later, the Social Democrats have become fighters against this very conscription. It should be voluntary if young men are to be recruited back into the army in view of the danger of a Russian attack on NATO territory and Germany is to be made “fit for war” (according to Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius).

But: Voluntary action will not solve the Bundeswehr’s personnel problems. In order to meet NATO’s requirements (the “capability goals”), a number of would be needed from 2030 240,000 to 260,000 soldiers. But not even the target of 203,000 by 2025 set by then Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) in 2018 has come close to being achieved. The force currently has around 183,000 soldiers and is happy to have stopped the decline.

With extra incentives such as a free driving license, language courses or a starting salary of 2,300 euros net as well as more advertising Women It may be possible to increase this number slightly. However, the major turnaround in the shortage of personnel cannot be achieved. The lottery process won’t change that. It just hides the fact that Germany has to face reality for a little longer.

The Swedish model was always touted as a great role model in Germany. As a reminder: In our Scandinavian neighbor, conscription, which had been suspended seven years previously, was reactivated in 2017. However, for men and Women (which in Germany would only be possible after a change in the Basic Law, which currently seems unlikely). A sample form will also be sent there, which must be filled out. On this basis, around 30 percent of a year group is sampled and recruited.

The belief that this happens purely voluntarily, as is often said in Germany, is a myth. The Swedish military prefers to recruit from the group of those who indicate on their enlistment form that they are willing to volunteer for service. But the numbers aren’t enough and the money is being confiscated harshly.

In Germany, the government is instead trying to lure the population into conscription through the back door. In doing so, it risks two things: firstly, that it will not be ready to defend itself in the event of a Russian attack on NATO territory. And on the other hand, an immense loss of trust if compulsory military service is introduced.