Germany to require all 18-year-old men to take military tests

Germany is preparing a major shift in its defence posture, introducing mandatory screening for all 18-year-old men as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s armed forces amid rising geopolitical tensions in Europe.

Although military service will remain voluntary, the new system represents the closest Germany has come to reinstating elements of conscription since it abolished compulsory service in 2011.

Mandatory registration returns

According to DW, all 18-year-old men will be required to complete a “declaration of willingness” beginning next year.

The questionnaire will assess physical fitness and indicate whether individuals might be open to military service.

Women may also participate, though their involvement is optional.

The policy forms part of broader contingency planning as European governments weigh warnings about potential future Russian aggression.

Germany’s leadership stresses that the changes aim to strengthen deterrence, not introduce conscription by stealth.

Building a larger force

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to build “Europe’s strongest conventional army”.

Germany currently fields around 180,000 uniformed personnel, but aims to expand to 270,000 active troops and 200,000 reservists by 2029.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told The Guardian that compulsory service remains a “last resort”.

Instead, officials hope the new assessment system — affecting around 300,000 young men annually — will improve recruitment while maintaining a voluntary model.

A follow-up medical examination is scheduled for July 2027, making those born in 2008 the first cohort required to undergo full evaluation.

Incentives for volunteers

Berlin is introducing perks to attract recruits, including free access to driving licences and improved pay for entry-level roles.

Pistorius insisted the changes should not cause alarm, arguing that a stronger military ultimately reduces the risk of conflict.

“There are no reasons to worry, or reasons to be afraid,” he said. “The more capable and defensible our armed forces are, the lower the likelihood that we will ever become a party to a conflict.”

European defence budgets have been rising since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

While Moscow’s losses have cast doubt on its capacity for wider expansion, European governments are nonetheless planning for a more volatile security environment.

Sources: DW; The Guardian; Metro

This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation