The German cabinet supports voluntary military service opening the door to the summons

The German cabinet has adopted a bill that will introduce voluntary military service. The bill can also lead to a summons if more troops are needed.

This is part of a move to strengthen the German national defense after the full -scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine.

Compulsory military service in Germany had ended in 2011 with then Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Chancellor Friedrich Mertz made the intensification of the military in Germany a priority, given the threat from Russia and said, “We are now on the way to the military service army.”

He summarized his thinking earlier this year, saying, “We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we do not have to defend ourselves.”

Germany’s plans are also following calls from US President Donald Trump for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense.

When his coalition government came to office earlier this year, it loosen the borrowing restrictions to allow defense costs and then announced plans for 3.5% of economic production to continue defense over four years.

Defense Minister Boris Pistory wants to increase the number of soldiers in service from 182,000 to 260,000 to the beginning of 2030 to achieve new NATO goals and to strengthen Germany’s defenses.

The Ministry of Defense also wants to increase the number of reservists to 200,000.

In the future, all 18-year-old Germans, both men and women, will be sent an online questionnaire, asking if they are ready to participate voluntarily for military service. It will include questions about their physical fitness.

Men will be required to fill the form, but it will be voluntary for women.

The 18 -year -old Quentin Gertner, who leads the federal conference of the students of the country, said his generation wanted to contribute to the protection of German democracy – but that young people’s votes should be heard.

“We can play our role and take responsibility for our society when we are involved in every decision -making process affecting our generation,” he told the BBC. “The Ministry of Defense has not yet reached out to us … He can call me at any time.”

In a statement, the government said military service would be voluntary for as long as possible.

However, it states that if the security situation deteriorates or if there are too few volunteers, the government may decide to use the approval of the German Parliament, Bundestag.

Pistorian told Deutschlandfunk Radio that he expects military service to remain voluntary.

“With attractive pay and attractive military service, I am very confident that we will be able to attract young men and women to the Bundeswehr,” he said.

In recent years, the Ministry of Defense has strengthened advertising campaigns and career events in an attempt to hire soldiers.

In the first six months of this year, Bundeswehr reported a 28% increase in the number of new recruits compared to the same period last year.

Some members of the Pistorie Social Democrats Party, a junior partner in the coalition, criticize plans, saying that Bundesver should be made a more attractive employer and not re-introduce compulsory military service.

Chancellor Conservative members have warned that the insistence on the Bundestag approval before re -introducing a summons can slow down too much.

Some commentators have questioned whether this is the right step for Germany.

Johannes Angerman, writes about a public operator MDR, said military service would rob the younger generation of time and money. Instead, he argues about an improved professional army.

Meanwhile, the anti-war group Rheinmetal Entwafnen said in a social media publication: “We do not want anything to do with the wars of the governing classes and we are not ready to die for a country that is increasingly reducing the whole social infrastructure. We will not fight your wars!”