BERLIN — Germany’s defense minister announced on Wednesday plans for new legislation that would help refill the depleted ranks of the armed forces to bolster the country’s defense capabilities.
Boris Pistorius said the proposed bill would allow the government to send letters to all young men who turn 18 — about 400,000 every year — asking about their willingness and ability to serve in the military.
Under the law, those who receive the letter would have to fill out the questions. The army would then invite those interested in serving for a medical checkup and choose the most qualified to serve in the military for a period of 6-23 months.
Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Pistorius explained that the threat levels have changed from what they were a few years ago.
“Russia has now been waging a war against Ukraine for two and a half years — it is not only calling the rules-based international order into question, it is destroying it,” he said. “This is a new threat situation.”
The campaign is part of efforts to boost active forces numbers to 203,000 from the current just under 181,000 figure. Germany had over 500,000 troops during the Cold War.
If the bill passes, the new military service would still be voluntary and a far cry from compulsory conscription for young men, which was suspended in Germany in 2011, after 55 years. Since then, there has been no mandatory military and civilian service in the country.
Germany’s…
