Since January 1, 2024, 18-year-olds in Germany receive a QR code for a Bundeswehr questionnaire on the new military service. So far, about 25 percent of those affected have responded, with men at around 50 percent participating much more than women at only 6 percent. The response rate comes from data provided by the Defense Ministry.
Germany's new military service is initially voluntary and aims to increase the number of active soldiers from about 184,000 currently to 255,000 to 270,000 by 2035. Young people born in 2008—nearly 700,000 in total—receive a QR code at age 18. This leads to a questionnaire assessing their suitability and willingness to serve in the Bundeswehr. Suitable and willing individuals are invited to a muster. From 2027, all young men are to be mustered.
According to information from the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) sourced from coalition circles, the overall return rate of the questionnaires is around 25 percent. Men, who are obligated to respond, have done so at about 50 percent, while women, who are not required to reply, have responded at only 6 percent. The deadline for male 18-year-olds is four weeks. The Defense Ministry initially did not comment on inquiries.
In early February 2024, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) stated that around 40,000 questionnaires had been sent out. He noted that conclusions about young people's willingness could only be drawn in two to three months. Pistorius expressed confidence in avoiding general conscription. However, many experts and defense politicians from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag doubt this. If sufficient volunteers are not found, the black-red coalition reserves the right to reintroduce conscription.
