Urgent Call for Immediate Action on Military Draft Decision
Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei, in a bold move, is pushing for a speedy resolution on whether the Bundeswehr's expansion can be accomplished through voluntary service or by reintroducing conscription. Frei's urgency is palpable, stating, "We can't afford to wait until doomsday." The black-red coalition needs to reach a clear consensus on when to revise their strategy to attain their widely recognized goal.
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the Bundeswehr requires an additional 50,000 to 60,000 active soldiers to counter the looming threat from Russia. With approximately 180,000 soldiers currently serving and a target size of 203,000, the force is far from its aim - and it's all thanks to voluntary recruitment.
Frei finds it difficult to envision the Bundeswehr's target growth of 230,000 to 240,000 soldiers exclusively through voluntary service. He stresses the need to determine when this goal should be achieved, and if there's enough time for it to happen voluntarily. "I honestly doubt we've got the luxury of time for that," he told the German Press Agency.
Frei's views seem to contradict SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch, who interprets the coalition agreement's wording to mean conscription won't be reinstated before the next federal election. However, Frei argues that this contradicts the agreements made during coalition negotiations and doesn't align with Defense Minister Pistorius' (SPD) statements. If voluntary service fails to achieve the desired goal, Frei underlines the need to explore alternatives.
It's a tightrope walk between voluntary enlistment, reactivating reservists, and increasing readiness. If these measures don't bridge the personnel gap, compulsory service with mandatory elements is being contemplated, with the legislative process already underway and heated debates among political parties and the public[1][3]. If recruitment goals aren't met through voluntary means, a legislative framework could go into effect as early as January 1, 2026[1][2], potentially reinstating conscription for the first time since 2011.
- "The ongoing discussions about the Bundeswehr's expansion, in the context of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, have become a significant focus in German politics, as Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei pushes for a speedy resolution."
- "The controversy surrounding the potential reintroduction of conscription as a means to address the Bundeswehr's personnel shortage is a hot topic in general-news, with Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei advocating for the exploration of alternatives if voluntary enlistment fails to achieve the desired goal."
