After several months of tension between political forces, the German government coalition has agreed on a new military service plan that will allow for an increase in the number of soldiers, writes the BBC.
The new plan stipulates that all men over the age of 18 will have to fill out a questionnaire about their suitability for service and undergo mandatory health checks from 2027. Thus, Berlin hopes to create the strongest army in Europe. Armin Papperger, the head of Germany’s largest military-industrial complex, told the BBC that he believes the plan can be implemented within five years. He said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s goal of strengthening the German army is realistic, and clear decisions are coming from the government.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the plan by the end of 2025.
General Carsten Breuer, the commander of the German armed forces, warned earlier this year that NATO must be ready for a possible Russian attack within the next four years. Papperger said he did not have a crystal ball to see the future, but agreed that Germany should be ready by 2029.
In forming a coalition earlier this year,
the conservatives led by Merz and the center-left Social Democrats agreed to restore military service,
which will initially be voluntary. The German army currently has about 182,000 soldiers, and the plan is to have 20,000 soldiers by next year, and about 260,000 soldiers in the next decade, with another 200,000 in reserve.
From 2026, all German men and women over the age of 18 will be sent a questionnaire to assess their interest in joining the armed forces. Men will have to fill out the questionnaire, while women will be able to do so voluntarily.
If the government’s plan fails, parliament could consider compulsory conscription.
Many young Germans are skeptical about the service, and a significant majority oppose it. A recent survey by Stern magazine showed that while just over half of respondents support compulsory service, 63% of respondents aged 18 to 29 are against it. Jimi, a 17-year-old student from Berlin, who took part in a protest against compulsory service, said he did not want to go to war because he did not want to be killed and shot at. He himself did not want to shoot people. He said an attack on Germany was an abstract and unbelievable scenario, and the government was using it to steal the choice of millions of young people.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Jason volunteered for service because of the current security situation. He said he wanted to defend peace and democracy if the worst happened. He felt he could benefit society by doing so, and he also believed that
a strong army could deter the enemy from attacking in the first place.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius tried to calm the public, saying that despite the new military service plan, there was no reason for concern or fear. He said that the more prepared the army was, the less likely it would be drawn into conflict at all.
Germany’s defense spending fell significantly after the end of the Cold War, and compulsory military service was abolished in 2011. Given its history, Berlin has long shied away from pursuing military might, but earlier this year, Merz said it would now do whatever it takes to defend Germany.
NATO members are under increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump and have pledged to increase defence spending. The rearmament of Europe will also mean significant profits for Rheinmetall. The company’s CEO, Papperger, said there was high demand at the moment, and that it needed to step up production of military vehicles and ammunition, and to have its own satellite communications: “We are working more with electronics and artificial intelligence than ever before.”
A US report suggests that Russia planned to assassinate Papperger in 2024. This has not been confirmed, however, and Papperger said he feels safe. Asked whether he thought Europe was in a Cold War or hybrid war situation, he replied that, whatever it is called, this is not a peaceful time.
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