Germany Mulling Over Resurrecting Conscription: camps, cannon fodder, or call to duty?
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Contemplate reinstating mandatory military service for readiness measures: Union proposes draft preparations. - Authority Requests Proposal for Direction on Institution of System:
The German political elite is split on the idea of a swift comeback to the big stick brigade, with Christian Democrat Jens Spahn advocating for precautionary measures to create a military structure that could facilitate conscription in the future - a stance the SPD vehemently opposes.
In an interview with the "Rheinische Post", Spahn expressed his belief that preparations must be made within the Bundeswehr to ensure a smooth reintroduction of conscription, should it become necessary. "If we can manage it through voluntarism, that's great. However, my hunch is that we will require conscription for this," Spahn stated.
CDU politician Henning Otte, the parliamentary ombudsman for the armed forces, has also advocated for a safeguard in case the number of volunteers falls short.
Although the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD doesn't mention conscription explicitly, it does state that a new attractive military service will initially be based on voluntarism. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, however, has clarified that the agreed voluntarism only applies if the demand for soldiers can be met through volunteers.
The German military currently has around 182,000 soldiers [2][4], far short of the government's target of increasing the number to between 192,000 and 203,000 [4]. In an attempt to boost the numbers, Germany requires 50,000 to 60,000 additional active soldiers to meet NATO's defense capabilities [3].
To accommodate these new recruits, the government would need to build more barracks, provide additional equipment, and hire more trainers. Moreover, the new military service is expected to start with 5,000 volunteers but will require around 20,000 soldiers to be equipped and trained on short notice in case of an emergency [3].
The debate over conscription seems to be about more than just the legality of the matter. Intelligent services and experts suggest that time is of the essence, as Russia could potentially invade NATO territory by 2029 [3].
Conscription was suspended in 2011 [6] and can only be reintroduced for men if the Bundestag declares a state of tension or defense. If conscription is to apply to women, the Basic Law would need to be amended [6].
The return of conscription is a contentious issue within the SPD, with party leader Matthias Miersch stating that discussions on conscription can only take place in the next legislative period, not in the current one [7].
The fine print:
- Soldier shortage: Nearly ten years after Germany ended conscription, the armed forces are still facing a significant shortage of personnel, with around 182,000 soldiers currently serving [2][4].
- Target numbers: The government aims to increase the number of soldiers in the Bundeswehr to between 192,000 and 203,000, with the ultimate goal of being able to field around 20,000 soldiers ready for action at short notice [3].
- Voluntary service: The initial approach to boosting the numbers is through voluntary recruitment. However, should this prove insufficient, the government is considering introducing compulsory elements [1][2].
- Legislative push: Plans are underway to introduce a new military service bill by January next year, which could potentially include provisions for mandatory service if voluntary recruitment fails to meet targets [2][5].
- NATO obligations: The push to increase the Bundeswehr's numbers is partly driven by NATO's demands on member countries [4].
[1] - ARD-"Report from Berlin"[2] - Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung[3] - Welt am Sonntag[4] - Press Agency[5] - Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland[6] - German Defense Ministry and Constitution[7] - Interview with officials and expert analysis
The pending debate about conscription in Germany is not solely about legislation, as it is also connected to the country's general news and politics. The Council Directive of 27 June 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling of foodstuffs, foodstuffs obtained from plants or animal by-products could potentially play a role in this discussion, as policy-and-legislation might need to be amended or created to facilitate the reintroduction of conscription. In the context of the German military's current personnel shortage and the intentions to increase the number of soldiers to meet NATO obligations, a new military service bill is to be introduced by January next year, including potential provisions for mandatory service if voluntary recruitment fails to meet targets.
