War and conscription: Does Germany need a return to compulsory military service?

War and conscription: Does Germany need a return to compulsory military service?

Tonight the discussions at “Hard but Fair” will once again focus on the pressing security issues in Europe. Moderator Louis Klamroth welcomes you to an exciting program about a topic that is more relevant than ever in times of geopolitical tensions: “War in Europe: no security without compulsory military service?” High-profile guests who are among the most important voices in security and defense policy will take part in this debate.

Among the discussants are Norbert Röttgen, the CDU's deputy parliamentary group leader for foreign and defense policy, Jan van Aken, leader of the Left Party, and the deputy inspector general of the Bundeswehr, Nicole Schilling. There are also the journalist and author Özge Inan, the political scientist Carlo Masala from the Bundeswehr University in Munich, law student and reservist Annabell Günther and Helena Clear, who is working in the Voluntary Social Year. The discussion will revolve around the central question: Is voluntary military service enough or does Germany need a return to compulsory military service?

Geopolitical tensions and conscription

The ramified issue is considered in the context of the current situation, with Russia waging a war in Europe and NATO troops on alert. In this context, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for more military strength in Germany, which has reignited the discussion about compulsory military service. According to a report by NZZ The return to compulsory military service is already a reality in several European countries: Croatia and Serbia have reintroduced this measure in 2023, while Denmark is now extending its compulsory military service to include women.

However, pressure on European security has also led other countries to consider reintroducing compulsory military service. Despite these developments, surveys show that opinions vary widely within the population. In Germany and France there is a majority in favor of a return to conscription, while there is resistance in countries such as Italy, Great Britain and Spain. Gids Hamburg emphasizes that, above all, the suitability of compulsory military service to close personnel gaps and to form reserves is being intensively discussed.

Military buildup and personnel requirements

In the wake of geopolitical changes, many European countries have increased their defense spending and are investing in new military equipment, such as tanks and missile defense systems. Still, experts warn that there may be a shortage of soldiers to effectively operate these new systems. Loud NZZ Up to 2 million active soldiers could be mobilized in the event of war, but only Turkey and Greece, among the major military powers, have maintained compulsory military service.

In Germany, the abolition of conscription in 2011 heralded a gradual decline in the armed forces, a decision that was seen as a reaction to security policy changes after the Cold War. But the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has called many considerations into question. Surveys show that there is an ambivalent relationship to compulsory military service, particularly in young age groups: while the majority of older people are in favor of it, 18 to 29 year olds are more skeptical about the topic.

Against this background, today's episode of "Hard but Fair" will not only be a political exchange of blows, but also an in-depth examination of the question of whether and how conscription could become a reality again in Germany.