this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2025
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Germany reinstates conscription with mandatory screening for 18-year-olds (demstate.com)
submitted 5 months ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/europe@lemmy.ml
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All male citizens turning 18 must complete a medical examination to assess their fitness for military service.

If the number of volunteers falls short, a draft lottery will be implemented to select individuals for service in the Bundeswehr, Germany"s armed forces.

Women will also be included in the process, receiving a questionnaire designed to evaluate their potential readiness to serve in the military.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand the German military, with a target of increasing the number of active troops to 260,000 and reservists to 200,000. The duration of mandatory service is set at six months, with half of that time dedicated to basic training, ensuring that recruits are adequately prepared for their roles.

For those who choose to volunteer for military service, the compensation is approximately €2,600 per month. Additionally, individuals who sign contracts for longer than one year will be granted "short-term contract soldier" status, which includes pay comparable to that of professional military personnel.

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[–] davel@lemmy.ml 29 points 5 months ago (1 children)

[–] sunbeam60@feddit.uk -4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It’s not that bad. This has been the norm in Scandinavia since forever. No house burnt down yet.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

give it time

[–] iguessimlemming@lemmy.ml 14 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Starting in 2026, 18-year-old men must declare willingness to serve, while women can volunteer. The plan offers flexible terms from six months and pay of €2,600 to attract recruits, aiming for 270,000 personnel by 2035. If voluntary enlistment falls short, conscription could return. DW Close, and fucked up, but not quite there yet. For precision's sake.

[–] KelvarCherry@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 5 months ago

Waiting for the men's rights groups to jump on that. I'd support them.

[–] dessalines@lemmy.ml 14 points 5 months ago (3 children)

The west just keeps passing the baton to see who will fail next at conquering eastern europe. France fail, germany fail, USA/NATO fail, now germany's up to bat again.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 13 points 5 months ago

I mean just look at the backgrounds of people like Merz or von der Leyen, these are descendant of the fascists who think this is their second chance.

[–] Tenderizer78@lemmy.ml 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I was diagnosed with autism in my early 20's. If I were German, 18, and drafted then I probably would be dead today.

If I had to make a draft work, I'd probably give people some kind of way to avoid military service but at great cost (like higher taxes or even mandatory civil service). Forcing a communist to go to war on your behalf will get people killed.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

one of the things I've seen with countries that draft all males or everyone is that there's plenty of work to be done away from the battlefield. if you worked for amazon or a fast food joint, you've seen logistics and fed people - plenty of which is needed for a military.

I wish we had a universal service requirement in the US, but: public service - so of course, military, coast guard, but also post service, forest service (we're relying on way too many prisoners as fire jumpers barf), national parks service (counting trees & bugs might be right up your alley lol), we fucking need a climate mitigation service going after invasive species and rewilding wetlands and estuaries to mitigate floods and surges - TEACHING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PUBLIC SERVICE - and day care and health care and so fucking much more.

Serve a year, you're done, here's your citizenship and right to vote. Serve 2-5 years - we'll pay for your schooling. Serve 6+? Co-sign the mortgage on your house.

Make it accessible to all who want to serve their country and help their society.