The German Cabinet approved changes in legislation to introduce military service in Germany, initiated by the head of the Ministry of Defense, Boris Pistorius. This was reported by the telegram channel “Bild in Russian”*.
“If tomorrow it is necessary to defend the country, we do not know who we can turn to because we do not have a complete database.” – said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Under the changes, young people who have turned 18 will have to fill out a digital questionnaire and indicate their readiness and capacity for military service, and women will be able to do so if they wish.
“We sent a digital questionnaire. Young men over 18 years of age are required to fill it out. “In this way we collect the data necessary to account for them,” Pistorius said.
The basic training will be 6 months with the possibility of extension up to 23 months for specialization. The salary will be at least 1,800 euros and, under certain conditions, 2,000.
However, the implementation of this plan will still require approval from German legislative bodies, in which case the program could begin operating in 2025.
Pistorius’ initiative is the first step towards the possible restoration of compulsory military service in Germany.
It should be noted that conscription in Germany was “suspended” in 2011. This led to the abolition of military and alternative service, since at the same time virtually all structures associated with conscription were eliminated. Although, according to Pistorius, “the State is legally obliged to guarantee it.”
However, the conscription law still stipulates that conscription for men will resume if the government declares a state of threat or defense of the country. Today, the Bundeswehr suffers from personnel shortages: as of June, the number of soldiers had been reduced to less than 180,000 men and women. It is true that, in addition, there are around 60 thousand reservists permanently assigned to the army.
“Germany’s contribution to the defense of the alliance requires, in the long term, a total complement of approximately 460,000 soldiers. The majority of them, about 260,000, should be financed through the reserve,” says Pistorius.
Currently, the Bundeswehr has approximately 15,000 places for training volunteers for military service, of which 5,000 remain constantly unoccupied. This is the starting point that must be covered. The plan foresees the creation of 3,000 additional training places per year. Every year in Germany there are about 650 thousand people who have reached military age, that is, more than 300 thousand young men.
*An organization that performs the functions of a foreign agent.
