The German government has put together a new military service plan to boost troop numbers.
This new military service plan will send all 18-year-old men — and women! — to fill out a questionnaire on their suitability to serve and undergo medical screening from 2027.
Completion will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women.
Germany has stated that it intends to create Europe’s strongest conventional army.
The proposed plan will be voted for by (or against) by the end of this year.
Some months ago, German defence chief Gen Carsten Breuer stated that the Western Nato alliance had to prepare for a possible Russian attack within the next four years.
Also earlier this year, the coalition government agreed to re-introduce military service which would be voluntary “to start with”.
The Bundeswehr (German armed forces) currently has around 182,000 troops.
The new model would increase that number by 20,000 over the next year, and over the next ten years hit 260,000 over the next 10 years, with the supplement of 200,000 reservists.
Some within Germany’s political left remain deeply opposed to mandatory service. German youth, vastly left-leaning, is not thrilled, with opposition standing at 63%.
“The more capable of deterrence and defence our armed forces are, through armament through training and through personnel, the less likely it is that we will become a party to a conflict at all,” Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said.
Conscription has been suspended in Germany since 2011.
Volunteers will receive €2,600 per month before tax.
