Germany Reinstates Mandatoryโค Militaryโฃ or Social Service
berlin -โข December 5, 2025 – Inโ a landmark decision, the German Bundestag voted today to reintroduce a form of mandatoryโ national serviceโ for citizens, encompassing both military and civilian options. Theโ new law, approved via roll-call vote, aims to bolster โGermany’s defense capabilities andโ address projected personnel shortages within the Bundeswehr, the country’s armed forces.The legislation is slated to take effectโ on January 1, 2026, โขand will initiallyโข apply to individuals bornโ in 2008 or later.
Thisโ marks a notable shift inโ German defense policy,reversing a suspension of mandatory conscription that began in 2011. The law’s scope is โคdefined by the commencement โคof military service, โคwith the rationale outlined in โขsupporting documentation stating the regulations willโฃ not retroactively apply toโข birth cohorts not previously covered byโฃ the 2011 โคDefense Law Amendment Act, โขexcept in situations of heightened tension or national defense. Individualsโค will โretain the โขright to refuse military service, opting instead for alternative civilian โคservice roles.
The legislation now proceeds to the Federal Council for reviewโ before becoming fully enacted. The move comesโค amid growingโ geopolitical concerns and aโ recognized need to strengthen Germany’s preparedness in a rapidly changing security landscape.