Germany’s parliament has voted to introduce voluntary military service, a major shift aimed at strengthening national defence in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Backed by 323 votes to 272, the plan is central to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ambition to build Europe’s strongest conventional army.
Under the new system, all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire from January 2026 asking if they are willing to join the armed forces. Completing the form will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women.
The decision has sparked youth-led protests across the country, with school strikes planned in as many as 90 cities. Organisers say they reject the idea of spending “half a year of our lives locked up in barracks… learning to kill,” arguing that war offers “no prospects for the future.”
Germany’s Bundeswehr currently has around 182,000 active troops, and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius wants to boost that number by 20,000 next year, with long-term plans to reach 260,000 personnel plus around 200,000 reservists. The system is designed to remain voluntary, but officials say compulsory service could be considered if the security situation deteriorates or recruitment falls short.
Medical exams for all 18-year-old men are planned from 2027 to streamline mobilisation in an emergency. Like much of Europe, Germany sharply reduced its army after the Cold War and ended conscription in 2011 under Angela Merkel.
The vote came as MPs also debated a contentious pensions reform bill—key to the governing coalition but opposed by some younger conservatives. With the Left party planning to abstain, the government is expected to scrape through the vote and avoid a crisis.
