German Military - Boris Pistorius reveals proposals for mandatory military service.
The German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, wants to revive the compulsory conscription of soldiers which was stopped 13 years ago. This initiative includes encouraging young men to fill out a questionnaire assessing their willingness and ability to serve, followed by reporting for conscription if selected. Additionally, he plans to enhance capacities for conscription.
This scheme marks the first steps towards possibly reinstating conscription. However, Pistorius aims to implement feasible steps in the current legislative period. The plan requires extending the conscription law for young men. According to military planners, approximately 400,000 individuals are expected to fill out the questionnaire annually, with 25% showing interest and 40,000 being selected for conscription. Currently, the training could accommodate 5,000 to 7,000 recruits, and there are plans to increase this capacity. A potential service duration ranging from six to twelve months is being considered.
On Wednesday, Pistorius will present these plans to the Defense Committee of the Bundestag in the morning, and to the public during a press conference in the afternoon.
Notably, numerous critics have expressed their disapproval towards this idea, particularly within certain factions of the SPD where the party's leader, Lars Klingbeil, advocates relying on voluntary recruitment instead. The Green Party chairman, Omid Nouripour, also opposes conscription and stated this at the beginning of the year. Moreover, some resistance is present within the FDP, but a shift may occur.
The conscription was discontinued in Germany in 2011 by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU). It resulted in the abolition of both military and civil service, and almost all structures for conscription were dissolved. The conscription law stipulates the re-establishment of conscription for men, but no real preparations have been made for such a situation since then.
In spite of a recruitment push, the Bundeswehr shrank to 181,500 soldiers and soldiers last year. Pistorius had previously tested models of compulsory military service, where he stated during a government hearing that he wouldn't solely rely on voluntary service: "In my firm belief, it won't work without compulsory service components." He frequently emphasized the importance of Germany achieving "combat readiness" to deter potential adversaries credibly.
Pistorius acknowledged that the term "combat readiness" may have discouraged some and still troubles them. However, he underlined the significance of addressing this matter using suitable terminology. "It is essential to make it clear through the right terms what it involves," he commented. Essentially, it entails being prepared for defense war in case of an attack - "therefore, getting ready for the worst, so as not to be taken by surprise."
In the discourse on military service, the issue of constitutional military justice comes up as well. The Federal Center for Political Education revealed that there have been more conscripted men than required for the army since the establishment of the Bundeswehr, often perceived as unfair.
The state recognizes other compulsory services, such as jury duty. Every citizen must undertake this responsibility as an honorary judge. Additionally, if a voluntary fire brigade does not materialize, a so-called compulsory fire brigade is established, where municipalities appoint suitable individuals for fire brigade service. Lately, a discussion has emerged about a broader new compulsory service that could encompass rescue services and disaster control. A constitutional amendment is necessary for compulsory service for women in the military.
The Bundeswehr Association Chairman, Colonel André Wüstner, demanded decisive actions for a new military service before Pistorius' plans surfaced. Bundeswehr figures have reached their lowest level since 2018 this month, according to Wüstner, speaking to the German Press Agency in Berlin. "In the coming days," he said, "it'll become apparent who, in defense policy, has genuinely changed their mind since the turn of the century." Options for compulsory military service or conscription modifications could be explored but will depend on the response from experts.
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Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, seeks to revive the German Armed Forces' compulsory military service, a practice stopped 13 years ago, by encouraging young men to fill out a questionnaire and potentially reporting for conscription if selected. Critics within the SPD and Green Party have expressed disapproval of this idea, but Pistorius plans to implement feasible steps during the current legislative period and extend the conscription law for young men.
