Germany reinstates voluntary military service

merkur.de (German)

Germany's new voluntary military service begins January 2026, with all 18-year-old men receiving a questionnaire. The government may reinstate mandatory conscription if recruitment targets aren't met. Women can volunteer for the process. The Bundeswehr aims to increase its active personnel to 260,000 and reserves to 460,000. Conscription is currently only legally possible for men.


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