Germany is making headlines! Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to build Europe’s strongest army, and a new conscription bill could make it happen. Could mandatory military service return?
In this video, we break down Germany’s ambitious military plan: expanding the Bundeswehr to 260,000 soldiers, adding 200,000 reservists, and offering incentives to attract recruits. We explore the political debate, public opinion, historical context, and how Russia’s war in Ukraine is reshaping European security.
00:00Germany is taking significant steps to overhaul its military.
00:13Chancellor Friedrich Mertz has pledged to build Europe's strongest army,
00:18an ambitious goal for a country whose military has long faced underfunding and neglect.
00:25With rising tensions, particularly from Russia, the government is now moving forward with a new conscription bill aimed at strengthening the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces.
00:36Last week, Germany's coalition government agreed on a sweeping new reform that could transform the country's military.
00:43The bill, if passed, would increase Germany's army size from 180,000 active duty soldiers to 260,000 by 2035,
00:52along with an additional 200,000 reservists.
00:56But how does Germany plan to meet these ambitious recruitment goals?
01:00The government is first focusing on voluntary enlistment.
01:03New recruits will be offered financial incentives, including a starting monthly salary of 2,600 euros, an increase of 450 euros.
01:12However, if these voluntary targets are not met, the government reserves the option of introducing mandatory call-ups, though only as a last resort.
01:23Starting in 2024, all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire asking about their interest in military service.
01:30For men, answering this questionnaire will be mandatory.
01:34By 2027, they will also be required to undergo medical exams.
01:40The government hopes these measures will help ensure the country meets its military staffing goals.
01:45However, the proposal to reintroduce mandatory conscription is stirring debate.
01:50Of course, it's important to be able to defend ourselves.
01:53But that's why we're in the NATO alliance.
01:55I love Germany.
01:56I wouldn't say I want to fight for this country now.
01:58I have a different life in mind than being at war.
02:01There's clear resistance among Germany's youth to the idea of mandatory service.
02:07Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the number of applications for conscientious objector status has surged.
02:14As of October 25th, over 3,000 people have applied, the highest number since Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011.
02:24I think it's terrible that Russia attacked Ukraine.
02:27But I am absolutely against war.
02:30A little strengthening of the military is fine.
02:32But now compulsory military service for everyone?
02:35I think that's wrong.
02:36The reluctance to embrace conscription is understandable.
02:40Germany's pacifist history, shaped by the aftermath of World War II, has kept military service a sensitive subject for decades.
02:49For much of the post-war period, Germany kept its defence spending well below NATO targets, reflecting a national discomfort with military power.
02:58That has changed dramatically in recent years, particularly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
03:05In response, Germany's government launched a Zeitung Wende, a turning point in its military policy.
03:12The then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz committed to a €100 billion fund to modernise Germany's armed forces, signalling a dramatic shift in the country's defence posture.
03:22Germany is now focused on building a stronger military, one capable of meeting NATO's defence spending targets and playing a more active role in European security.
03:33Chancellor Mertz has vowed to make Germany's military the strongest conventional army in Europe.
03:40Experts agree that a strong German military could play a pivotal role in European security.
03:45Minna Alanda, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, believes that Germany's central location makes it crucial to Europe's defence.
03:54Germany has the potential to play a key role in the conventional defence of Europe, given its central geographical location.
04:01If the plans to reach the new personnel numbers materialise, it will be great for Europe, but that will likely be sometime in the 2030s.
04:08However, Alanda also points out that these reforms won't be fully realised until at least the 2030s, to address the immediate security challenges posed by Russia.
04:20Jendor Karsten Breuer, Germany's Chief of Defence, has warned that NATO should prepare for a potential Russian attack within the next four years, possibly as soon as 2029.
04:30This puts even more pressure on Germany to accelerate its military plans.
04:35Despite the growing recognition of the need for a stronger military, the proposal remains controversial.
04:40The idea of mandatory conscription has sparked fierce opposition, especially from the political left.
04:47In an October poll, 80% of voters from the left-wing Dylinker Party opposed the idea of reintroducing conscription.
04:56The debate over mandatory military service has drawn concerns about alienating young people.
05:01Some fear that compulsory conscription could push more youth toward extremist political movements, given their reluctance to serve.
05:09The new conscription bill still needs to be approved by Germany's Bundestag, with a vote expected by the end of this year.
05:16If passed, the changes will take effect on January 1, 2026.
05:21As Germany moves forward with these ambitious reforms, its military future – and the future of European defence – hang in the balance.
05:29Hang in the balance.
05:30Will Germany succeed in building a powerful and modern military force?
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