Bundeswehr: Söder calls for compulsory military service for at least seven months

CSU leader Markus Söder has spoken out in favor of a return to compulsory military service lasting at least seven months. “From today’s perspective, the suspension was a mistake,” he told “Bild am Sonntag”. “The argument back then was that we no longer have a threat in Europe. That’s different now. As the threat situation grows, reintroducing compulsory military service makes sense.” The reintroduction will not happen overnight, he admitted. “We are talking about implementation over a period of five years at the earliest in order to adapt the necessary structures.”

Compulsory military service was suspended in July 2011 after 55 years by the then Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU). In practice, this amounted to an abolition of military and civilian service, as all structures for the mustering and training of larger numbers of soldiers were also abolished.

Minister has various models examined

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is currently having models of compulsory service examined due to the changed security situation after the Russian attack on Ukraine. He had declared that he would also take the Swedish conscription model into account. “All young women and men are mustered there, and only a selected number of them end up doing basic military service. Whether something like that would also be conceivable for us is part of these considerations,” he told “Welt am Sonntag” in mid-December.

Criticism came primarily from the FDP and the Greens, but SPD chairwoman Saskia Esken also distanced herself from the initiative. The Bundestag’s Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Högl, then called for an objective debate to be held in the new year about the models for general service in the Bundeswehr and civil organizations.

Söder wants 100,000 drones for the Bundeswehr

Söder, who is also Bavaria’s Prime Minister, told “Bams”: “We have to make our country 100 percent defensible. Firstly, that means: full equipment, full ammunition depots, full training opportunities.” Procurement needs to be “revolutionized.” A “drone army with 100,000 drones for our armed forces” is also needed. There is also a need for a modern infrastructure with new barracks, new depot structures and new administrative units. “This is the only way we can achieve a larger and stronger Bundeswehr as the threat situation grows.”

On the subject of reintroducing compulsory military service, he said: “In order to ensure proper basic training, it should last at least seven months.” As an alternative, one could also think of a general service obligation, which would, however, be constitutionally difficult to enforce. “Conscription would apply to men. A social service obligation for everyone,” explained Söder. “Of course the Bundeswehr is open to women.”

The CSU boss said we should start strengthening voluntary military service now. “The current offer is not attractive enough. Everyone who voluntarily serves for a year should receive a bonus: for example, a reduction in the numerus clausus for studying, waiver of practical semesters or a shortening of the training period.” In addition, the service should be better paid. “Of course, all of this must also apply to basic military service.”