Berlin: Germany’s Bundestag on Friday endorsed a landmark and highly debated military-service reform bill, a move that marks one of the most significant shifts in the country’s defense posture since the end of the Cold War. The legislation passed after months of political tension and public debate is aimed at rebuilding the Bundeswehr into a robust, combat-ready force capable of responding to growing security concerns across Europe, particularly Russia’s aggressive stance on NATO’s eastern flank.
With the reform, Germany formally introduces a dual-path service model that blends enhanced voluntary recruitment with a framework for selective conscription. While the government insists that compulsory service will only be activated under exceptional circumstances, the law nevertheless reopens the door to conscription more than a decade after it was suspended in 2011.
Defense officials argue that this hybrid model is essential as Germany faces capability gaps, recruitment shortages, and new risks emerging from Russia’s military activities near Europe’s borders. Strategic planners say the Bundeswehr must rapidly strengthen its manpower if Germany is to play its expected role as a central pillar of European defense.
Under the legislation, the Bundeswehr will embark on a multi-year expansion plan. The law includes:
A new voluntary service pathway supported by financial incentives, improved career planning, and better training conditions.
A conditional conscription mechanism, which may be triggered if the voluntary model fails to meet recruitment targets. This system includes the possibility of random selection should the number of eligible candidates exceed requirements.
Mandatory reporting by the Defense Ministry every six months to the Bundestag, ensuring constant parliamentary oversight over recruitment numbers and the readiness of the armed forces.
The Bundeswehr currently stands at around 183,000 active personnel. Under the new law, Berlin aims to increase the force to 260,000 soldiers, while also building a strategic reserve force of at least 200,000 by 2035. This expansion is considered critical for Germany to meet its NATO obligations and respond swiftly to high-intensity conflicts.
The legislation reinstates an evaluation system for conscription eligibility:
All men born after January 1, 2008 will undergo phased medical assessments, scheduled according to administrative capacity.
Beginning next year, both 18-year-old men and women will receive forms asking whether they are willing to serve. While women are not legally required to respond, men must reply under current rules.
The government says this screening process will help assess Germany’s potential defense manpower, even if conscription remains dormant.
The bill passed with support from the coalition parties, who argued that Germany can no longer ignore escalating geopolitical tensions. Russia’s recent military activities, alongside global instability and emerging threats such as cyber-warfare, have convinced lawmakers that a stronger defense posture is necessary.
Opposition politicians, however, sharply criticised the law. Some parties claimed it weakens civil liberties, while others questioned whether a partial conscription system could be effectively implemented without massive administrative overhaul. Human-rights groups expressed concern about the reintroduction of compulsory elements into national service, warning of potential inequities in the selection process.
Despite the backlash, Defense Minister officials stressed that the legislation is a preventive measure meant to ensure Germany is never caught unprepared in a crisis.
Germany’s move places it among a growing group of European nations including Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, and Latvia that have revived or expanded military-service obligations in response to what they describe as a deteriorating European security environment.
Analysts say Germany’s decision carries enormous symbolic and strategic weight. As the EU’s largest economy and a key NATO member, Berlin’s shift could influence defense policies across the continent and reshape Europe’s collective security architecture.
With parliamentary approval secured, the German government will now focus on the practical rollout of the system: expanding training facilities, modernising infrastructure, and improving living conditions for recruits. Defense leaders emphasize that the law represents only the first step in a long-term rebuilding of the Bundeswehr.
As Germany enters this new defense era, the debate is far from over. Supporters view the reform as a necessary shield in uncertain times, while critics fear it opens the door to deeper militarisation. What remains clear is that the legislation marks a historic recalibration of Germany’s post-war identity a shift driven by the evolving realities of a more unpredictable world.