Berlin, December 5, 2025 – Germany’s Bundestag has approved a new voluntary military service law. The new law aims at expanding the Bundeswehr’s troop numbers. The law was passed today, on December 5, 2025. It introduces a fresh framework for voluntary service without reinstating full conscription for now.
Starting January 2026, all 18-year-olds in Germany will receive an online questionnaire assessing their fitness, skills, and interest in military service. Completing this questionnaire is mandatory for young men and optional for women.
From July 1, 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo compulsory medical evaluations to create a robust database of qualified personnel. The voluntary service period ranges from six to eleven months. The first six months are a probationary period.
Participants will receive a gross monthly pay of €2,600, along with improved training opportunities and the option to extend their service.
The law sets ambitious goals to grow the Bundeswehr to 255,000 active service members by 2035. To achieve recruitment targets, the Bundeswehr requires around 80,000 voluntary enlistments per year. The German parliament will receive semi-annual progress reports on the enlistments.
Failure to meet voluntary recruitment goals could trigger a needs-based conscription lottery. While the law mandates service, conscientious objectors retain the constitutional right to refuse military duty, potentially opting for civilian service instead.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Chancellor Friedrich Merz have framed the reform as a call for civic duty. The law passed with a vote of 323 to 272 after intense negotiations among governing parties.
Thousands of students protested across roughly 90 German cities. They voiced their concern over what they perceive as a step back towards militarization. Critics warn of a slippery slope toward renewed conscription, while supporters emphasize the law’s necessity for fulfilling NATO commitments and ensuring national security.
