In 2011, conscription was suspended. Since then, the Bundeswehr has had a harder time recruiting men and women for service. The Ukraine war is relaunching a well-known discussion.
The Russian attack on Ukraine has sparked a new debate about introducing compulsory military service in Germany. Politicians from the Union and the SPD called for a discussion about such a step, which combines military service and social services.
On the other hand, FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr declared a new edition of compulsory military service in Germany to be out of the question. “Our task now is to equip the troops well and improve structures so that they are operational at all times. It’s not about mobilization, it’s about full alliance capability,” Dürr told the German Press Agency.
The security expert of the SPD parliamentary group, Wolfgang Hellmich, told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”: “We urgently need to have the debate about general compulsory service. Because for that we need a social consensus.” He said conscription would promote community spirit.
The deputy chairman of the Union faction, Johann Wadephul (CDU), calls for the “expansion of the federal voluntary service to a general service in the Bundeswehr and other blue light organizations”. “If this service is made financially attractive and concrete benefits such as accumulating pension points or easier access to study or training places are created, we have the opportunity to recruit many more staff,” Wadephul told Welt.
Meanwhile, AfD defense politician Rüdiger Lucassen is calling for general conscription to be reactivated immediately. “In addition, the entire defense record must be rebuilt,” says Lucassen.
Compulsory military service was suspended in July 2011 after 55 years under the then Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU), which in practice was tantamount to abolishing military and civilian service. The FDP had demanded this for a long time. “I don’t think that conscription will really help us in the current discussion,” said Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) on ARD.
Strict rejection by the CSU state group
The CSU state group also gave a strict refusal to a debate about a return only to conscription. “I am very much in favor of further strengthening the voluntary service, but the reintroduction of general conscription is not up for debate,” said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt of the “Augsburger Allgemeine”.
The Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Eberhard Zorn, makes similar statements. He strongly opposes such a move. “Conscription, as we know it, is not necessary in the current situation,” Zorn told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
The Bundeswehr and its tasks have changed. “Conscripts are absolutely unsuitable for fighting in cyberspace, to name just one example,” Zorn explained. “We need well-trained, and in some cases even highly specialized, staff to cover the entire range of tasks.”
After war of aggression new reality
At the same time, Zorn is preparing the Bundeswehr for far-reaching changes. The ruthless war of aggression by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine has created a new reality, wrote Germany’s highest-ranking soldier to the troops.
Zorn referred to the billion-euro program that has now been decided for the armed forces. “The backbone of the Bundeswehr must once again be fully equipped armed forces that can project from the start and are capable of high-intensity combat within the framework of NATO and the EU,” said Zorn. Bureaucratic hurdles would have to be removed and the operational readiness of the troops in the area would have to be increased quickly and visibly. Zorn thanked the soldiers for their commitment and a “mindset” that is needed in the face of war in Europe.
He wrote: “My thoughts at this moment are also with the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian armed forces, who, under the leadership of their courageous government, are not only fighting for the democratic and free future of their country, but also for our European values.”
Source: Stern

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