The German army had big recruitment goals for this year. But with very few people volunteering to serve, the question now is: will Germany bring back military conscription?
With the introduction of the Military Service Modernisation Act, Germany rolled out its new voluntary military service model at the start of this year.
Since January, young German men and women have received an official questionnaire directly from the army (Bundeswehr) shortly after their 18th birthday. The form, which is mandatory for men but optional for women, asks about the potential recruit's fitness and education, and crucially whether or not they're interested in joining the armed forces.
With this proactive, but not yet forceful, approach Germany hoped to dramatically expand its army -- a key part of the country's larger plan to become more sovereign in its defence.
The problem is, it doesn't appear to be working.
The numbers
The official goal was to increase the Bundeswehr's active-duty force by 80,000 men and women (up to a total of 260,000) through voluntary recruitment. Additionally, 200,000 men and women were wanted in the reserves.
To this aim, the armed forces planned to send questionnaires to around 650,000 young people this year, or approximately 54,000 per month.
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So far, after more than 300,000 questionnaires have been sent, the total number of new recruits signed up and committed to military service amounts to just 530 men and women, according to recent media reports.
That means the Bundeswehr has reached just about 0.7 percent of its recruitment goal so far.
What's more, at least 5,862 respondents declared they would refuse military service, according to a report by Suddeutsche Zeitung -- meaning that ten times as many young people would absolutely rule out military service than those who committed to it.
There was, however, a larger group of young men who signalled interest. Some 20,000 men born in 2008 said that they would consider military service, but have so far not signed up for it.
Will there be a draft?
The very small number of committed recruits raises the big question: Will Germany bring back conscription?
Whether or not Germany needs to, or should, bring back military conscription (Wehrplicht) is a topic of heated debate.
Citing the imminent threat of heightened aggression from Russia and the perceived unreliability of support from the United States, some of Germany's more defence-minded politicians have suggested that bringing back military conscription was necessary from the start.
Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, advocated for starting with a voluntary approach. But from the beginning he said that if the army did not get enough volunteers, there would be "no choice but to introduce partial conscription."
The corresponding Military Service Modernisation Act was passed in December 2025, which outlined the process by which the Bundeswehr would send and collect questionnaires from the start of 2026. It also mandates 18-year-old German men to undergo a medical examination starting from July 2027.
Crucially, the law enables Germany to bring back compulsory service in the future if there continues to be a lack of volunteers.
Given the low number of volunteer service people the army has gotten so far, some are already suggesting that compulsory service looks inevitable.
READ ALSO: Senior MP says Germany could revive conscription by mid-2027
In a recently released statement, the Bundeswehr's former Inspector General, Klaus Naumann expects that the new military service rules will soon be replaced by conscription.
Mass protests
Naturally the most passionate opinions on the topic comes from those whose lives would be most directly affected-- young Germans themselves.
Tens of thousands of students and young people in Germany have repeatedly organised and participated in a "School strike against conscription" (Schulstreik Gegen Wehrpflicht).
"We are not dying for your war," is among the commonly seen protest slogans seen at the rallies.
Others include shots aimed directly at the Germany chancellor. This is the movement which birthed the now infamous phrase, "Merz leck Eier."
IN PHOTOS: Thousands of students in Germany strike against military service
On the other side of the argument are Germany's 530 newest troops, who have taken it upon themselves to serve.
Suddeutsche Zeitung quoted a new 18-year-old recruit as saying that he didn't join the army to serve Merz, but to serve his family, freedom, democracy and "everything that makes us German".
READ ALSO: How do Europeans view Germany's military build-up?
