Germany: Senior General calls for reinstating Conscription to replenish army’s shortages in order to achieve NATO objectives
German NATO General Christian Badia has called for the reinstatement of compulsory military service in Germany, given the shortage of up to 60,000 soldiers in the Bundeswehr.
“Preparations for the reinstatement of compulsory military service must begin now,” Badia told German Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
General Badia, who contributes to planning development within NATO’s Transformation Command in the United States, explained that voluntary conscription has failed in recent years to fill the gap in the Bundeswehr’s troop strength, warning that further delays will leave Germany unable to achieve its military objectives within NATO.
He also rejected arguments that Germany lacks the infrastructure to support a conscription-based army, asserting that old barracks could be renovated and operated by private investors, with the army acting as the tenant.
The idea of reinstating compulsory military service has gained momentum amid growing security concerns in Europe.
Germany abolished compulsory military and civilian service in 2011 after 55 years, and the associated infrastructure was completely dismantled.
In this regard, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that he doesn’t rule out reconsidering the principle of voluntary military service, which the ruling coalition had previously planned to implement.
Following his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in Berlin on Tuesday, Merz said, “I agree with the defense minister’s assessment that we are already short of five large numbers of soldiers in the German army today”.
The Christian Union leader added that in this situation, “we must closely examine the adequacy of attraction programs and the principle of volunteerism to recruit such a large number of soldiers”.
He continued, “And if the principle of volunteerism is not sufficient, we must discuss further steps very soon”.
For his part, the new parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, Henning Otte, told German television’s Channel 1 that the armed forces must be protected from overburdening, and suggested that it might be necessary to reinstate compulsory military service.
He added, “As commissioner for the armed forces, I’ll raise this issue again, and this will happen this year”.
