Germany’s top general urges registering all young men for army service
(MENAFN) Germany’s highest-ranking military officer, Gen. Carsten Breuer, has called for all young men to be registered for possible military service, emphasizing that such a measure is vital to assess national defense readiness.
"From a military perspective, it is crucial that the entire age cohort is assessed," Breuer said in an interview. "Only then do we know who is available and who we could access in case of a defense situation."
Breuer dismissed suggestions of using a lottery system to select recruits, arguing that such a method would bring in individuals “randomly,” regardless of their motivation or suitability for service.
The debate comes as Germany’s parliament reviews a proposed military service law aimed at increasing the Bundeswehr’s strength to 260,000 troops by 2035. This would require recruiting around 20,000 new soldiers each year.
The draft legislation, introduced by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, envisions an initially voluntary system in which all 18-year-old men would fill out questionnaires assessing their skills, health, and willingness to serve. Those deemed suitable would be invited to consider enlistment.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc has suggested a “Danish model” provision to introduce a lottery-based draft if voluntary enlistment fails to meet recruitment goals. Pistorius, however, opposed the idea, reiterating that military service should remain voluntary.
Germany ended compulsory military service in 2011, transitioning to a professional armed force. The Bundeswehr currently maintains about 183,000 active personnel.
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