In the context of the war in Ukraine, Germany is considering restoring compulsory military service. The idea is debated across the Rhine.
It was the new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, in office for a month, who relaunched the debate by describing the end of compulsory military service a few days ago as an “error”. It was phased out in Germany in 2011. Compulsory conscription has been replaced by voluntary service, which this year brings together 9,200 participants, 18% of whom are young women.
According to estimates, a return from military service would make it possible to call up 700,000 young people each year. This would make it possible to approach the objective set by the Chancellor: to make the Bundeswehr the best equipped armed force in Europe. Because the German army lacks not only equipment but also personnel.
Germans are divided
45% are in favour, 39% opposed. Senior military officials are rather opposed to the idea. The main blockage is of a logistical nature: after the end of compulsory service, the Bundeswehr got rid of a certain number of its barracks, necessary to house recruits. The other problem is the lack of instructors, not to mention the shortage of equipment which is already largely insufficient to equip the 55,000 career soldiers.
To relaunch the system, seven to eight years would be needed, according to military experts who also say that it is not a large number of young conscripts that Germany needs, but highly qualified personnel to finally constitute an army. modern. Because weapons and technologies are more and more sophisticated and their handling requires experience.
The chairman of the liberal FDP party, Christian Lindner, who is also the finance minister, categorically opposes the idea. In a country where two million jobs are vacant, he estimates that depriving oneself of around 700,000 young people each year would be a mistake and harmful to the economy.
The Norwegian model
The solution might be a German-style compromise, inspired by the Norwegian model. All young people are subjected to military selection tests, it is the equivalent of the three days spent by each future conscript in France. But then only a small part is chosen, and selected to pass the military service, according to the needs of the army, each year.
This system has the advantage of being more suited to real needs and less expensive, but it could only see the light of day if the Defense budget increases significantly. Because the special fund of 100 billion euros released last year for the Bundeswehr would not be enough.