Bundeswehr: Return to military service? Union for preparations

In the coalition, there are increasingly differences about a rapid return to compulsory military service. Union faction leader Jens Spahn pleads to create the prerequisites for any compulsory service in the Bundeswehr as a precaution – the SPD does not want this.

“In any case, a structure in the Bundeswehr must be created that makes a rapid return to military duty. This does not go overnight, but we have to start preparations,” said Christian Democrat Spahn of the “Rheinische Post”. “If that is about voluntariness, good. But my impression is that we will need conscription.”

The Bundestag’s military officer, the CDU politician Henning Otte, also insisted on protection in the “Welt am Sonntag” if there are not enough volunteers.

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner referred to the adverb “initially” for the voluntariness agreed in the coalition agreement. “So this does not rule out that you re-work a compulsory conscription as needed and with the appropriate infrastructure,” the CDU politician told the Editorial Network Germany. However, it is a fan of a general duty that also includes other areas of social life.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had recently not excluded “additional steps” during military service.

What is in the coalition agreement

The word “conscription” does not appear in the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD. Instead, it says: “We create a new attractive military service that initially is based on voluntariness.” Here the SPD had prevailed in the negotiations against the Union.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) recently made it clear several times that the agreed voluntariness only applies if the need for soldiers can be met in this way.

What NATO considered necessary

In the meantime, the NATO defense minister has agreed what every member country has to contribute so that the alliance can be sufficiently defensive and can deter a potential upgraded attacker such as Russia. For Germany, 50,000 to 60,000 active soldiers therefore need more, said Pistorius.

But the previous goal of 203,000 men and women in the standing armed forces have not been achieved. Despite the advertising campaigns and social media appearances, “personnel turns” and reduced requirements, the number fell to hardly more than 181,000 soldiers.

How requirements and numbers match

Measured in the old goal announced for years, the Bundeswehr would have to be able to equip and train a short -term 20,000 soldiers. However, the new military service should initially begin with 5,000 volunteers, as it was last said. The trainers were already missing for more.

It becomes clear that the debate is about more than the now controversial legal bases. If you want to create the prerequisites for compulsory military service, you have to keep barracks, equipment and trainers early. Time is forced to explain intelligence services and specialist politicians. Russia was capable of an attack on NATO area by 2029.

Why there is no longer any compulsory military service

The compulsory military service under Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) was suspended after 55 years. Until then, it only applied to men and comes into force for men when the Bundestag determines the event of tension or defense. If the obligation should also apply to women, the Basic Law would have to be changed.

The necessary law on a new military service is written in the Ministry of Defense and is currently in the so -called departmental vote between the ministries.

The SPD parliamentary group reservedly commented on a return to military service. “In the upcoming legislative period, you may not be able to negotiate a compulsory military service in this,” recently said SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”.

The defense policy SPD parliamentary group spokesman, Falko Droßmann, told the German Press Agency: “We are working hard to inspire young men and women for the service in our armed forces. For this, the Bundeswehr’s infrastructure has to be massively improved and attractive and flexible career models have to be offered.

What the military officer can imagine

The military officer Otte can also imagine more incentives for young people to report voluntarily. “This could include relief in studying or additional pension points,” he told the Germany editorial network. This must then arise specifically in the necessary social discussion about the service in the Bundeswehr.