Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service Amid Student Protests and Security Concerns

Germany’s parliament has approved a voluntary military service system for 18-year-olds, with men required to complete a questionnaire and women able to participate voluntarily. The move aims to strengthen the Bundeswehr amid security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The reform has sparked nationwide student protests, and the government plans to expand the military while keeping compulsory service as a possible future option. A contentious pension reform vote was also narrowly managed, averting a potential government crisis.

Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has approved a major reform that introduces a new system of voluntary military service, a move driven by heightened security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The decision signals a significant shift in Germany’s military policy and aligns with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ambition to build Europe’s strongest conventional army.

Under the new system, beginning in January 2026, all 18-year-old men in Germany will be required to complete a questionnaire indicating whether they are interested in joining the armed forces. Women of the same age will also receive the form, but their participation will be voluntary. The questionnaire is expected to serve as an initial screening tool for identifying potential recruits.

The announcement has sparked widespread opposition among young people. Students in up to 90 cities across Germany have announced plans to strike in protest, arguing that they do not want to sacrifice months of their lives to military training. Organizers of the protests posted a statement online saying they reject the idea of being “locked up in barracks” and taught “drill and obedience” or how to kill. They warned that war “offers no prospects for the future and destroys our livelihoods.” In Hamburg alone, around 1,500 students were expected to participate, prompting school leaders to caution parents against allowing their children to miss classes.

German lawmakers voted 323 to 272 in favor of the reform, making Germany the latest European country to reintroduce some form of military service. France recently announced a similar system of voluntary military training lasting ten months for young adults aged 18 and 19.

Although Germany’s new policy is framed as voluntary for now, the government has indicated that from July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo a mandatory medical examination to assess their fitness for potential military duty. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius argued that universal medical checks are necessary so that, in the event of an attack, authorities can quickly determine who is capable of serving as a homeland defender.

Currently, the Bundeswehr has around 182,000 personnel, but the government aims to increase this number by 20,000 in the coming year. The longer-term objective is to expand the force to 260,000 by the early 2030s, supported by roughly 200,000 reservists. These measures are designed to align Germany with new NATO force targets and strengthen the country’s overall defense posture.

Officials stress that the intention is to maintain voluntary service as long as possible. However, the Bundestag could consider compulsory service if Germany’s security situation deteriorates or if too few volunteers sign up. In the event of war, the collected questionnaires and medical assessments would serve as a key database for rapid mobilization.

Germany’s armed forces have been significantly reduced since the 1990s, after the end of the Cold War. At their peak, the country maintained an army of nearly half a million soldiers. Compulsory military service was abolished in 2011 under former Chancellor Angela Merkel as part of a broader restructuring. But rising tensions with Russia and pressure from the United States for NATO allies to increase defense spending have pushed Germany to reverse course.

To attract volunteers, the government is offering comparatively generous incentives, including salaries of around €2,600 per month. In comparison, France’s new system offers volunteers at least €800 monthly.

Meanwhile, the Bundestag was also preparing to vote on a controversial pensions reform bill aimed at freezing state pension levels until 2031. The bill is a key component of the governing coalition agreement between Merz’s conservatives and their partners, the Social Democrats. However, doubts had emerged over whether it would pass, as younger conservative MPs threatened to rebel, arguing that the reform is financially unsustainable and places an unfair burden on future generations.

The situation shifted when Germany’s far-left opposition party, the Left, announced it would abstain from the vote. This reduced the number of votes needed for the bill to pass, easing pressure on the coalition and helping prevent a potential government crisis.