Bundeswehr: Can only conscription save the troops?

If there were an attack on NATO territory or even Germany today, the Bundeswehr would not be ready to defend itself. Security experts agree on this. In addition to a lack of material (tanks, ammunition), the biggest problem is the lack of soldiers. The force has around 183,000 soldiers.

In order to achieve the agreed NATO goals, the Bundeswehr would have to “grow up” to at least 240,000 to 260,000 soldiers by 2035, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. But so far it has only managed with difficulty to compensate for the annual departures (an average of 20,000).

What has to happen? There has been a heated debate about this for months. The focus is on the question of whether compulsory military service, which was suspended in 2011, needs to be reactivated.

Security expert Christian Mölling believes this approach is wrong. “In the current discussion we are only talking about the question of ‘compulsory or voluntary military service’ and not about the question: What is the bigger picture? Why should they actually do that?” says Mölling, senior advisor at the Brussels think tank “European Policy Centre”, in star– “The Situation – International”.

Young people need to be told why they should defend the country. “If they don’t have this motivation at all, they are potentially worse soldiers,” says Mölling.

The political scientist sharply criticized the Bundeswehr’s current personnel policy. This has “a long history of unsuccessful advertising campaigns behind it” that has not increased the number of staff: “And the only thing that comes to mind now is to say, if they don’t come voluntarily, I’ll force them to.”

Mölling also believes that the proposal of some Green Party politicians to introduce a “compulsory social year” in the civilian and military sectors for people up to 28 is too short-sighted. He advocates the introduction of a “civil protection service” for the entire population.

“If you look at other countries, they have understood this for a long time,” says the political scientist, referring to Finland and Sweden. There, people from young to old are trained “to know what to do in the event of a conflict.” Compared to this, the German debate is a “luxury discussion”.

Mölling therefore suggests following the Scandinavian models. In Sweden, for example, in 2017, in addition to the reintroduction of general conscription (for men and women) a “civil duty” established. All Swedes aged 16 to 70, as well as people without Swedish citizenship who live in Sweden at this age, must complete civil defense exercises and can be called upon to do so in an emergency.

In Mölling’s opinion, something similar should also be done Germany be introduced. “We also need the other two-thirds of society to actively participate in the defense of this country – they have to know what it’s about,” said Mölling.