A national questionnaire will be sent from January 1 to assess young Germans' interest in serving, with men required to complete it and women allowed to participate voluntarily under a draft law. From July 1, 2027, all 18-year-old German men must undergo a mandatory medical examination regardless of voluntary service choices. Political leaders cite Russia as the primary long-term threat and seek to build Germany into the largest conventional NATO force on Europe’s side. The government aims to increase troop numbers, expand operational reserves, and boost recruitment with higher pay, healthcare and training incentives.
From January 1st next year, a questionnaire will be sent to all young German men and women to assess their interest in serving, including questions on their level of fitness, skills and interests. While men are required to complete it, it will be voluntary for women, according to a draft law that must still be passed by parliament. Starting on July 1st, 2027, all 18-year-old German men will also be required to undergo a mandatory medical examination, even if they do not opt for voluntary military service.
Merz stressed that "Russia is -- and will remain for a long time to come -- the greatest threat to freedom, peace and stability in Europe". He reiterated his goal that Germany, the EU's most populous nation, "must have the largest conventional army on the European side of NATO". Conscription was officially suspended in Germany in 2011 under then chancellor Angela Merkel. Merz has made boosting Germany's threadbare military a key priority given the threat from Russia and US President Donald Trump's questioning of the traditional American security umbrella for Europe.
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