Ankara:Germany has seen a significant rise in applications to refuse military service on grounds of conscience, with more than 12,000 applications submitted this year. This figure more than triples the total number of applications in 2025.
According to Anadolu Agency, the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) newspaper group reported that the applicants include reservists, active-duty soldiers, and young men, despite military conscription being suspended in Germany.
A spokeswoman from the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions (BAFzA) stated that 12,102 conscientious objector applications were registered in the first eight months of 2026. This is a substantial increase from 3,879 in 2025 and 2,249 in 2024. Officials attribute this surge to the new military service law, worsening international security conditions, and fears of military conflict in Europe.
The new law, effective from the start of 2026, requires all men turning 18 to complete a questionnaire about their fitness, skills, and interest in joining the armed forces. Although military service remains voluntary, critics argue that the government intends to gradually reintroduce conscription, starting with these questionnaires.
Mandatory medical screening has been instituted for men born in 2008 or later, but due to limited capacity, it is being implemented in phases. Under Article 4 of the Constitution, citizens have the right to refuse armed military service for reasons of conscience, requiring a written application and detailed personal statement submitted to the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Personnel Management, which then forwards the request to BAFzA for review.
Currently, the Bundeswehr has approximately 186,400 active troops. To fulfill NATO commitments and address rising security risks in Europe, the Defense Ministry plans to increase the force size to over 260,000 personnel by 2035. This expansion necessitates recruiting 20,000 new personnel annually, a target defense analysts believe will be challenging to meet without mandatory service if voluntary enrollment declines.