politics

May 5, 2026

Tens of thousands of young Germans invited to join army

The German Armed Forces have said they sent a questionnaire on joining the military to 194,000 young people

Tens of thousands of young Germans invited to join army

TL;DR

  • The German Armed Forces sent questionnaires to around 194,000 young people between January 15 and April 24.
  • All 18-year-old males are obligated to fill out the questionnaire and register for potential military service under a new law.
  • The questionnaire collects personal data and asks about willingness to join the army, preferred branch, and service duration.
  • Women can volunteer but are not required to participate.
  • The goal is to expand the military from 186,000 to 260,000 troops plus 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s.
  • The military expansion is linked to concerns about the "Russian threat" since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
  • Some politicians support reinstating the draft, while students have protested the government's plans.

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