Germany: Recruitment boost crucial, Bundeswehr report finds

"The issues of personnel and its expansion remain the central challenges for the Bundeswehr, if it is to further strengthen its capabilities. Given elevated threat levels, and in order to meet the government's stated target of having 260,000 active soldiers and another 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s, plans to reintroduce some kind of military service would need to be a success."

"Otte recommended that if voluntary service proved insufficient, the next step should be a return to some form of compulsory service. Germany has been trying to boost its defense spending and its military recruitment in light of various factors, but most notably Russia's invasion of Ukraine and appeals from the US for Europe to do more as part of the NATO alliance."

Germany's parliamentary commissioner for the Bundeswehr, Henning Otte, has issued an annual report emphasizing personnel expansion as the military's central challenge for strengthening capabilities. The report advocates for rapid recruitment drives to meet government targets of 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s. This push responds to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and NATO appeals for increased European defense contributions. Currently, the Bundeswehr has approximately 186,000 active troops and 60,000 reservists on call. Otte recommends that if voluntary military service proves insufficient, Germany should consider reintroducing compulsory service to bridge the personnel gap and address elevated threat levels.

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