Berlin: Germany's debate over military conscription is exposing a sharp generational divide as Europe faces growing pressure to strengthen its defenses amid the Russia-Ukraine war and uncertainty over the future of US security guarantees in Europe. The country suspended compulsory military service in 2011, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine and renewed doubts about Washington's role in European security-especially after US President Donald Trump questioned NATO defense commitments and revived tensions with Denmark over Greenland-have pushed the issue back onto the political agenda.
According to Anadolu Agency, while Berlin has not formally reintroduced conscription, it recently adopted a new military service model requiring men turning 18 to complete a questionnaire about their willingness and suitability to serve in the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces. Women may also participate voluntarily. Security analyst Rafael Loss stated that Europe's changing security environment has increased pressure for greater military self-sufficiency. He emphasized the necessity for a more European defense by Europeans, for Europeans.
Many younger Germans, however, remain deeply skeptical of a return to compulsory military service. The debate has become especially sensitive in Germany, where memories of militarism and world wars still shape public attitudes toward the army. However, since the start of the Ukraine war, support has grown in Germany for rebuilding the Bundeswehr, increasing defense spending, and discussing military service. Yet, support drops sharply among younger Germans who would actually face compulsory service.
A recent survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations found a sharp age divide across Europe over mandatory military service, where older respondents were generally more supportive of conscription, while younger groups were far more likely to oppose it. Germany's case was especially stark, with a net opposition rate of 46% among 18-29-year-olds to mandatory military service, while every older age group expressed overall support for conscription, with backing increasing steadily among older respondents.
Recruitment shortages are fueling pressure on Germany's military strategy, which aims to have a total of 460,000 soldiers ready by the mid-2030s, 200,000 of whom would be in the reserves. The mandatory questionnaires have already begun reaching people turning 18, asking whether they are interested in serving in the military. By mid-2027, mandatory physical examinations for male 18-year-olds are also expected to begin.
Youth activist Bela Breitner, spokesperson for the School Strike Against Conscription movement, highlighted that the current law is not yet a full return to conscription but creates the possibility of broader compulsory service if recruitment targets are not met. Breitner said the government's military expansion plans were fueling fears among younger Germans that the country was moving toward deeper militarization. Loss stated that Germany's military ambitions should not be understood as a narrow national project, but as part of a wider European security structure.
Breitner also pointed to allegations of sexual harassment and right-wing extremism within the Bundeswehr, saying many young people do not view the military as a safe institution. Ahmet Deveci, a German law student, voiced similar concerns, framing his opposition through legal, ethical, and religious arguments. He expressed concern that expanding compulsory military service could eventually draw Germany into foreign conflicts, with his greatest fear being that young Germans could be sent into wars that violate international law.
The conscription debate is reshaping German politics, creating a difficult political dilemma, especially for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The far right supports a stronger military, but often from a nationalist perspective. Mainstream democratic parties, by contrast, frame the Bundeswehr as part of European and NATO defense. Loss pointed out that German public opinion has shifted since 2022, with more people recognizing Russia as an immediate threat to European security and accepting a larger role for the Bundeswehr. However, many Germans remain uncomfortable with the idea of Germany acting as Europe's dominant military power, seeing Germany as part of a leading collective of countries rather than a singular leader.