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?
05:35Only time will tell.
05:36Time will tell.
05:37Time will tell.
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