Germany weighs reintroducing conscription as recruitment shortfall looms

Germany is facing a serious recruitment shortfall for the Bundeswehr. Only 530 volunteers joined between January and May, while about 38,500 people applied in the first half of 2026, resulting in roughly 11,000 new enlistments. The government plans to expand the armed forces from the current 185,000 personnel to at least 260,000 by 2035.

Defense committee chair Thomas Röwekamp warned that if voluntary recruitment cannot meet these targets, Germany will have to restore mandatory military service for men, with a decision required by 31 July 2027. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to build Europe’s strongest conventional army amid what officials describe as a growing Russian threat and the possibility of a NATO‑member country being attacked as early as 2029. The proposal includes a compulsory questionnaire for 18‑year‑old men and new incentives such as higher pay and flexible service terms, while youth groups continue to protest the idea.

The issue is slated for discussion at the NATO summit in Ankara in early July.