The German Defense Ministry wants 40,000 new recruits a year by 2031, Der Tagesspiegel reported on Thursday, citing informed sources. Teenagers may be called up to serve if volunteers cannot fill the gap, the newspaper said.
Sources in the ministry told the outlet that the initial aim would be to boost the number of volunteers for the army reserves starting next year. If contract soldiers are not enough to fill the quota, Berlin would reintroduce mandatory conscription for 18-year-olds from 2028, defense officials said.
The ministry will present a draft bill on the changes to the cabinet in August, which will then move to the parliament for approval.
The project aims to boost volunteer numbers from 15,000 this year by 3,000-5,000 annually, offering pay rises, driver’s license subsidies, and bonuses as incentives, according to Der Tagesspiegel.
From 2027, all young men and female volunteers would complete military questionnaires assessing their interest in joining the German armed forces. Suitable candidates would undergo voluntary medical checks, the aim of which would be to provide a “situational overview” of their health suitability, broadcaster ZDF said.
Germany has repeatedly debated whether or not to return to conscription, which was suspended in 2011. Along with other EU countries, it moved to revamp its military readiness after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022.
In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated a proposal to marshal €800 billion ($914 billion) in debt and tax incentives to re-arm the EU in the face of what she described as a “Russian threat.” Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such claims as “nonsense.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest army” on the continent.
In neighboring France, President Emmanuel Macron has proposed reviving voluntary national service to increase the number of reservists from 40,000 to 100,000 within a decade, while ruling out the reinstatement of the draft.
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