Germany moves towards drafting men for compulsory military service
Germany had abolished compulsory conscription in 2011, but Pistorius has lobbied for under both the current and previous governments, citing the need to make Germany 'ready for war' in light of the growing threat from Russia.
The proposed system, inspired by Sweden's model, will initially rely on volunteers but include mandatory elements, German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Monday.
The plan would require all men turning 18 after 31 December 2007 to complete online questionnaires detailing personal information and interest in serving, followed by invitations to official in-person screenings and potential conscription for some men.
Should the voluntary enlistment fall short, the German parliament could authorise compulsory conscription based on Germany's defence needs.
Pistorius hopes to have some 30,000 volunteers a year by 2029, with improved conditions and monthly compensation of over €2,000, a rise of 80%. However, that target is only half of the 60,000 the minister previously cited as necessary to meet NATO capability requirements.
The draft law puts the required peace-time size at 203,000, up from currently 181,000 troops. The plan also aims to expand Germany's pool of reservists to 200,000.
Sticking points
The move to include compulsory elements is highly controversial. Pistorius's attempt to introduce such a law since 2023, led by his Social Democrats (SPD), failed due to staunch resistance from his own party and the Free Democrats (FDP), their coalition partner.
While Merz's Christian Democrats are in favour of compulsory service, the SPD remains sceptical. In 2024, Pistorius could only narrowly avert a motion from the party's youth wing that would have called to oppose any compulsory military service.
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