Germany has moved to bolster its defense capabilities following Russia’s recent full-scale offensive in Ukraine. The Bundestag has approved a new voluntary military service scheme for 18-year-olds—marking a major shift in the country’s defense policy and aligning with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s vision of building “Europe’s strongest army.”
Under the new framework, beginning January 2026, all German 18-year-old males will receive a mandatory questionnaire asking whether they are willing to join the military. For women, responding will remain optional.
The move has sparked widespread protests across the country. On Friday, students in nearly 90 German cities announced strikes opposing the decision, with many young people expressing frustration and fear over the prospect of military involvement.
On social media, demonstrators wrote: “We don’t want to spend six months in barracks undergoing military drills and training for killing. War destroys our future; it doesn’t create opportunities.”
In Hamburg alone, an estimated 1,500 people are expected to join demonstrations. School authorities have urged parents to discourage class boycotts.
The measure passed in the Bundestag by 323 votes to 272, placing Germany among several European nations revisiting military service requirements. Just last month, France announced a 10-month voluntary military training program for 18- and 19-year-olds.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that starting in 2027, all 18-year-old men will also undergo medical examinations to quickly determine who is fit for military deployment during emergencies.
The Bundeswehr currently has approximately 182,000 soldiers. The government aims to add 20,000 new troops within the next year and expand the force to 260,000 personnel in the early 2030s. The Defense Ministry also plans to maintain roughly 200,000 reservists.
Sources: BBC, CNN