Germany could reintroduce compulsory military service as early as July 2027, according to senior German lawmaker Thomas Rowekamp, amid growing concerns that voluntary recruitment will not be enough to meet Berlin’s expanding defense goals.
Speaking to AFP, Rowekamp, who chairs Germany’s parliamentary defense committee and is a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the country may soon face a critical decision over reinstating the draft.
Germany’s Military Expansion Faces Recruitment Crisis
Since the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022, Germany has accelerated plans to strengthen its armed forces, citing security concerns and what officials describe as a rising threat from Russia.
Berlin aims to expand its active military personnel from the current 186,000 troops to 260,000, alongside building a reserve force of 200,000 by the mid-2030s.
However, the recruitment numbers have fallen significantly below expectations.
According to reports, only 530 individuals volunteered for military service between January and May this year, despite around 300,000 young Germans completing mandatory military registration forms under the Military Service Modernization Act.
The legislation, passed last year, requires all 18-year-old males to register for potential service, complete medical evaluations, and indicate their willingness to serve. While the system currently remains voluntary, the law allows authorities to activate a lottery-based call-up if manpower shortages continue.
“Serious Doubts” Over Voluntary System
Rowekamp warned that the German government must review the effectiveness of voluntary enlistment in early 2027.
“In the first half of next year, we will need a fundamental discussion about whether these ambitious growth targets can be achieved voluntarily,” he said, expressing “serious doubts” about the current model.
He stressed that if recruitment targets remain unmet, Germany would likely have no choice but to return to compulsory military service.
“We must make that decision by July 31 next year,” Rowekamp stated.
Youth Protests Erupt Across Germany
The possibility of conscription returning has already triggered widespread protests among Germany’s youth.
Earlier this year, thousands of students participated in a “School Strike Against the Draft” in Berlin, with similar demonstrations taking place across other major German cities.
Many protesters argue that forcing military service would undermine personal freedoms and place young people at the center of rising geopolitical tensions.
Germany officially suspended conscription in 2011 after decades of mandatory military service.
Defense Minister Warns of Russian Threat
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has repeatedly supported discussions on restoring conscription, arguing that Europe must prepare for possible future aggression.
Pistorius warned last year that Russia could potentially challenge a NATO member by 2028, making rapid military expansion essential.
Chancellor Merz has also pledged to transform Germany’s armed forces into the strongest conventional military within the European Union.
Moscow Rejects Threat Narrative
Russia has strongly rejected claims that it poses a direct military threat to Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of using the “Russian threat” narrative to justify large-scale militarization, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Germany and the EU are heading toward dangerous militarization.
The growing debate over conscription highlights how Europe’s security landscape is rapidly shifting as tensions between Russia and NATO continue to intensify.
With recruitment numbers lagging and defense ambitions rising, Germany may soon face one of its most significant military policy changes in over a decade.