No conscription, but mustering for all: The Bundeswehr is to test women and men again for their fitness - and thus attract more young people.
Berlin - Conscription in Germany has been suspended for more than ten years. But now the Bundeswehr is complaining of a serious shortage of personnel. The outbreak of the Ukraine war has ruthlessly exposed the economy of scarcity. Now more young people are to be automatically brought into contact with the troops again. This is because the reintroduction of patterning is intended to solve the problem of young talent. Can this be achieved?
Eva Högl (SPD) wants to recruit men and women for the Bundeswehr
In any case, Eva Högl (SPD) is convinced of this. The Commissioner for the Armed Forces has rushed ahead with the proposal to make it mandatory for all women and men of military age to be drafted. "As in Sweden, you could invite an entire cohort of young people to enlist in the Bundeswehr. And then, if they are fit for military service, let them decide for themselves whether they want to get involved or not," she told the news portal t-online.de. This pattern should then be aimed at all genders, Högl demanded.
Calls for a draft for all: The military commissioner Eva Högl (SPD) wants to solve the personnel problems of the Bundeswehr in this way. © Michael Kappeler/dpa/Ipon/imago/Montage
At the same time, however, she ruled out a return to conscription. Withdrawing the suspension "doesn't help at all," she said. Because the ailing Bundeswehr has neither the instructors nor the infrastructure for this. However, she could imagine introducing a mandatory year of service for Germany. This could then be done in the military or civilian sector, i.e. in the Bundeswehr, in hospitals, in disaster control or in other social institutions.
Should conscription be reintroduced in 2023? Scholz and Pistorius are against it
However, the reactivation of compulsory military service or the introduction of a general year of service remains controversial in Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (both SPD) have already spoken out clearly against a comeback of conscription. Pistorius made it clear in February, however, that he sees good arguments for a general duty to strengthen civil protection, the Bundeswehr and rescue services. The young people must be heard in the question, he said, according to a report by the dpa news agency.
Conscription abolished?
An abolition of conscription was not carried out in Germany. From a purely legal point of view, conscription has only been suspended. In 2011, the then Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) dared to take this step. Even if conscription has not been officially abolished, military or civilian service is no longer considered to exist in practice. However, a reintroduction would be quite possible.
The FDP, however, expressed legal and political objections to such a duty of service. On the one hand, there is now a lack of district military substitute offices, which have been abolished in the course of the Bundeswehr reforms. On the other hand, it is not clear whether all women and men can really be committed.
Service year instead of conscription: CDU advertises for a social year
In the opposition, however, there are fewer concerns. In September, for example, at its party congress in Hanover, the CDU spoke out in favour of the nationwide introduction of a mandatory social year. Where the young people can complete the service should be interpreted as flexibly as possible, "be it in social institutions, in hospitals, in the Bundeswehr, in civil protection at the THW or in the fire brigade, through recognized aid organizations abroad or in sports and culture or with nature and environmental protection associations". Prior to this, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had already initiated a debate about the introduction of compulsory social time about a year ago.
0
Also Read
M1 Abrams tanks: fuel-guzzling combat machines for Ukraine
READ
Drone attack on Putin's residence - Russia's elite trembles
READ
"Prigozhin flees": Apparently chaos in Wagner's retreat from Bakhmut – Ukraine reports high Russian losses
READ
Consequences of the Ukraine war: Secret service recognizes delicate Belgorod dilemma for Putin
READ
Putin entrenches himself – Russia's president worried after drone attacks
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
In any case, the pressure to act is great. According to the general assessment, the Bundeswehr is in a catastrophic state. After the end of the Cold War, after the end of the Cold War, the armed forces were gradually transformed into a lean army for foreign missions, the capabilities for national defense were neglected. The Ukraine war then exposed the deficiencies in tanks, air defenses and other weapons systems. The army was "bare", the Inspector General of the Army, Alfons Mais, sounded the alarm shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression - which is why the German government launched a 100-billion-euro program to eliminate the grievances.
Too few soldiers: Pistorius complains about personnel shortage in the Bundeswehr
But in addition to weapons, there is also a lack of personnel. Recently, the Bundeswehr has been attracting fewer and fewer young people. The number of employees is to be increased by 2031. But just a few days ago, Pistorius hinted that the target could be missed. "I don't dare to predict whether we can reach the number," the defense minister said during a visit to the Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr in Cologne. Since the Corona pandemic, there has been a sharp drop in the number of applicants. They are working to get out of this valley. He cited the shortage of skilled workers and demographic change as reasons. There are currently around 183,000 soldiers in the Bundeswehr. (jkf/
)