German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius Photo: Martin Meissne
The German government has passed a new bill that requires all citizens who turn 18 next year to fill out a digital questionnaire about their readiness to serve in the army. This decision is a response to Defence Minister Borys Pistorius’ call to strengthen the national defence, which is currently experiencing a serious personnel and technical shortage. Haude.de writes
The new approach is aimed at strengthening defence capabilities without introducing compulsory military service, which was abolished in 2011. However, the law provides for the creation of a mandatory database of volunteers who could be mobilised to defend the country in the event of an emergency.
Personnel shortages and new military goals
Germany needs an army of 460,000 soldiers, most of whom should be reservists. However, there is currently a shortage in the Bundeswehr: out of 15,000 places for volunteers, almost a third remain unfilled. Therefore, the law provides for the creation of additional places for training recruits.
Pistorius emphasises that the current security situation requires Germany to be prepared for possible aggression. “Prepare for war if you want peace,” he said, stressing the importance of military deterrence. The renewed and ready Bundeswehr should become a deterrent that will deter a potential aggressor from attacking.
Lack of resources and staff
In recent years, Germany has invested heavily in defence, but the implementation of the programmes is slow and the shortage of equipment and personnel remains a major problem. Many military bases have been closed, and after the abolition of compulsory service, the country lost its recruit training base.
According to Pistorius, “we have lost the ability to respond quickly, and it will take time and resources to rebuild these structures”. The minister also stressed the importance of civil defence: in the context of global instability, Germans must be prepared for crisis situations at the level of both the army and the civilian population.
A new challenge for German youth
The new law not only mobilises young people for service, but also gives them a choice about whether to participate in national security. This system will allow Germany to have a reserve contingent ready to be mobilised in case of a threat. However, the question remains whether the country will have time to prepare for a potential challenge.
