“No growth problems” – the Bundeswehr can probably cover personnel needs without compulsory military service

Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has expressed confidence that the Bundeswehr will be able to cover its personnel needs in the future without returning to compulsory military service. The measures anchored in the new Military Service Modernization Act were effective; the Bundeswehr currently has around 190,000 soldiers, its highest level in 13 years, Pistorius told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “If the course continues, we won’t have any growth problems.” Then there would have to be “no discussion about compulsory military service, however it should be structured”.

Regarding the recent demonstrations by young adults, which were also directed against conscription, Pistorius said he had a lot of sympathy for young people who had never had to deal with these issues and who were now worried about what might happen to them. “But when people say at the demonstrations that we don’t want to go to the front and die in the war, then I can only say: We want exactly the same thing.” This is precisely why we need strong armed forces “that can act as a deterrent so that we don’t end up in the situation of having to fight anywhere.”

The minister announced new efforts to attract more women to serve in the Bundeswehr: In terms of numbers, the armed forces are a "boy's shop" and that will not change any time soon. "But we want to have more women in the Bundeswehr. It is particularly strong when it covers the breadth of our society." There is currently a positive development in applications and hiring of women. However, the numbers are not yet satisfactory.

Around 460 suspected cases last year did not seem to be many at first glance, given the size of the Bundeswehr, said Pistorius. But they caused great damage to those affected and brought the Bundeswehr into disrepute. Pistorius announced that he would present the results of a dark field study on this topic next week. "We were aware that the results could also be very unpleasant. That made it all the more important for us to do it anyway and make the results transparent."