Opinion poll
Majority for compulsory military service in Germany
All men to the federal government or in civilian service? The conscription in Germany has ended since 2011. Calls after reintroduction will be louder – even among people in the country.
The majority of Germans are for reintroduction of military service. In a survey by the opinion research institute YouGov on behalf of the dpa news agency, a total of 54 percent advocate that there should be an obligation to serve the Bundeswehr again. 36 percent support compulsory military service for men and women. 18 percent believe that, as in the past, only men should be obliged. Only 40 percent, on the other hand, believe that military service should remain voluntary. 6 percent did not provide any information.
In 2011, conscription for men was suspended by the then federal government of Union and FDP after 55 years. Against the background of the “permanently changed security and defense policy situation”, the fundamental rights associated with a mandatory service could no longer be justified, it was said at the time in the reasoning of the change in the law. In the Basic Law, however, conscription for men remained anchored.
Government coalition has so far been planning without compulsory military service
In view of the growing threat from Russia, a significant increase in the Bundeswehr and the reintroduction of compulsory military service is now being discussed. In order to expand them to women, however, the Basic Law would have to be changed with a two-thirds majority, for which the black and red coalition would need the consent of the Greens and the left. The left is basically against compulsory military service.
Sweden, Israel, North Korea: This is how military service looks in other countries
Australia
Australia abolished compulsory military service in 1972. Instead, there is a voluntary military service for men and women. A special feature is the recruitment of foreigners by the Australian Defense Forces (ADF). For example, New Zealanders, Canadians, British and Americans who have been living in Australia for at least a year can join the ADF. Women have been serving in all areas since 2013, also in combat units. In 2024 they provided just over 20 percent of the armed forces
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According to YouGov survey, 69 percent of the left voters are for maintaining the voluntary military service. In contrast, the voters of all other parties represented in the Bundestag is a majority for reintroduction of military service. Among the voters of the CDU and CSU, it is 68 percent, below which the SPD 64 percent. Of the AfD supporters, 55 percent are compulsory conscription and among the Green voters it is 51 percent.
The approval of conscription increases with age. While in the age group between 18 and 29 there is only one in three (35 percent) for this, there are two thirds of the respondents (66 percent) for over 70 year olds.
The Union and the SPD had agreed on a military service in the coalition agreement “which initially is based on voluntariness”. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) later declared that the Bundeswehr had to be enlarged by 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers in order to meet the new threat situation. The Union is now going to a quick decision as to whether this troop strength can be reached via a voluntary military service.
The data used are based on an online survey by YouGov Deutschland GmbH, in which 2212 surveyed nationwide between 13 and 16 June 2025. The results were weighted and are representative of the population in Germany aged 18 and over.
Dpa
wire
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
