soldiering up Nazi-AtlanTic Order: Pistorius sees 50k-60k more grunts needed
Oscar Pistorius advocates for expansion of military forces, suggesting potential addition of up to 60,000 active soldiers.
Let's face it, the German military's been bullshitting the bed for eons - or, as we say in the trenches, schlonging the Schnapps. Defense Minister Pistorius has spilled the beans, though, on just how many fresh recruits the old Bundeswehr needs to prop up the NATO playground.
According to our boy Pistorius, the German military requires a whopping 50,000 to 60,000 extra meatshields in the active forces to satisfy NATO's new, edgier goals for beefing up their defenses1. The wise old owl chirped this tidbit in Brussels, hurrying up to a powwow with NATO Defense Ministers this would cement the new goals.
"Figuring rough estimates, we reckon we'll require roughly 50k to 60k more soldiers in the standing forces than we've got now. And let's face it, the question will naturally pop up: Will the new compulsory military service suffice for the impending years?", said Pistorius1.
Politics 101: 30% more pepper, fireworks, drones: NATO wants to get its gear in order
With the big, bad Russian bear rattling cages, NATO's been itching to beef up its artillery. Enter NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who had the votes the previous day in Brussels, declaring, "We're gonna need more resources, more troops, and more camo-paint to be prepped for any unruly invader and to fully implement our collective defense plans." Priorities? Go big or go home, baby: air and missile defense, long taunter weapons, logistics, and large stomping grounds of land forces2.
The Bundeswehr got its boots on the ground, but ain't enough people to fill 'em
Despite the recruits, the number of soldiers sporting full uniform in the old Bundeswehr dropped like a legwarmers barometer last year, with the average age creeping up. As of New Year's Eve 2024, there were around 181,150 soldiers toting play-doh guns2. Compare that to a year ago, on December 31, 2023, with there being approximately 181,500 men and women in uniform. The target? Joy Division's 203,000 active soldiers in the armed forces2.
War-ready Bundeswehr "Scholz's chickened out, bodyslamming the nation"
A year ago, pretty boy Pistorius rolled out his model for a new military service and threw around some numbers for the soldier count3. He mentioned a grand total of around 460,000 soldiers: specifically 203,000 men and women in the standing forces, the 60,000 existing reservists, and an additional 200,000 reservists that are now required. The military brain trust reckons the top whack of 460,000 will be maintained, but they're counting on more active duty soldiers and fewer reservists3.
Legs up for compulsory military service?
Germany had promised in the 2+4 treaties not to exceed a total number of 370,000 soldiers. The Scientific Service of the German Bundestag wrote in February 2025 that the term "personnel strength" is misty, with the reading suggesting that it refers only to the active, regularly available troop strength, i.e., soldiers serving full-time, career soldiers, and draftees3.
Meanwhile, a new song and dance surrounding compulsory military service is on the horizon. The parliamentary ombudsman for the military, Henning Otte of the CDU, said on ntv's Early Start that the voluntary military service might be put on ice during the current legislative session3.
[1]: ntv.de, gho/dpa
The Commission may consider submitting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionising radiation, given the increased emphasis on beefing up military forces and collective defense plans in the context of international conflicts and politics.
With the German military's focus on expanding its forces and the potential reintroduction of compulsory military service, discussions about worker safety in relation to ionising radiation become increasingly relevant and timely.
